I smashed my daughter’s car window and pulled her and my three-week-old granddaughter out of the 110°F heat, but before she passed out she whispered two names—her husband and his mistress.

The screen flickered.

For a few seconds, there was only the empty driveway, the sun beating down on the asphalt.

Then Brandon’s silver SUV pulled in.

The room went completely still.

Brandon’s attorney shifted in his chair. Nicole’s hand flew to her mouth. Brandon himself leaned forward, his jaw tightening.

On the screen, Brandon stepped out of the driver’s seat. He looked around the neighborhood, scanning the street, checking the windows of nearby houses.

Then he walked to the passenger side and opened the door.

Emily stumbled out.

She was unsteady on her feet, her movements slow and confused. She reached back toward the car, as if remembering something, but Brandon caught her arm and guided her toward my daughter’s car, which was parked behind his SUV.

“She’s disoriented,” the detective murmured.

On the video, Brandon opened the driver’s door of Emily’s car and practically pushed her inside. She didn’t resist. She couldn’t.

Then Nicole got out of the SUV.

She walked to the back of Emily’s car, opened the door, and leaned inside. When she pulled back, Grace was in her arms, still in her carrier.

The detective paused the video.

“Is that your daughter’s car seat?” he asked me.

I nodded. I couldn’t speak. My throat felt like it was closing up.

The video continued.

Nicole placed Grace in the back seat of Emily’s car, then closed the door. She walked back to Brandon and said something. He nodded.

Then Brandon reached through the open driver’s window.

He adjusted the seat, pushing it all the way back.

He grabbed Emily’s phone from the center console and slipped it into his pocket.

He pushed the diaper bag onto the floor behind the passenger seat, out of Emily’s reach.

Then he leaned in and spoke to Emily. Whatever he said, she didn’t respond. She just stared straight ahead, her eyes glassy.

Brandon pulled back.

He reached across Emily.

And he pushed the lock button.

The sound of the locks clicking echoed through the quiet office.

Then he closed the driver’s door.

He tested the handle.

Locked.

He and Nicole got back into his SUV and drove away.

The video ended.

The silence in the room was deafening.

Brandon’s attorney was the first to speak. “This is… problematic.”

“Problematic?” I exploded. “He left them to die!”

Brandon stood up. His face had gone pale, but his eyes were hard. “This is out of context. Emily was having an episode. I was trying to calm her down—”

“By locking her in a car with her baby?” the detective asked.

“She asked me to!” Brandon shouted. “She said she needed a minute alone! I thought she’d unlock the door when she was ready!”

“Then why take her phone?” the detective pressed.

Brandon hesitated. “She’s been… obsessive about calling people. Making up stories. I didn’t want her to embarrass herself.”

“Embarrass herself?” I stepped toward him. “You left her in ninety-five-degree heat with a three-week-old baby! You moved the seat so she couldn’t reach the controls! You pushed the diaper bag out of reach!”

“Mrs. Hale,” the attorney said, holding up a hand, “I think we should all remain calm—”

“Don’t you dare tell me to remain calm!” I pointed at the screen. “That is attempted murder. On my daughter. On my granddaughter.”

The detective stood up. “Mr. Carter, I need you to come down to the station. We have more questions.”

Brandon’s face twisted. “You’re arresting me? Based on a video that doesn’t show everything? I want my attorney present for every question.”

“You’ll have your attorney,” the detective said. “But you’re coming with me.”

As the detective led Brandon and Nicole toward the door, Brandon turned back to me.

His voice was low and dangerous.

“This isn’t over, Margaret. You think you’ve won? You have no idea what you’ve started.”

I stared him down.

“I know exactly what I started,” I said. “I started saving my daughter’s life.”

After they left, the detective turned to me. “Mrs. Hale, that video is powerful evidence. But we need more. We need to understand why Emily was so disoriented. The blood work from the hospital should tell us something.”

I nodded. My hands were shaking.

I walked to the window and watched as the detective led Brandon and Nicole to his car. Brandon kept his head high, like he was already planning his next move.

I knew that look.

I’d seen it before, in the weeks leading up to the wedding, when Emily had doubts and Brandon had convinced her everything would be perfect.

I’d seen it when he’d “accidentally” spent thousands of dollars on her credit cards.

I’d seen it when he’d quit his job and told her he was “starting a business” that never seemed to go anywhere.

Brandon Carter was a predator.

And he wasn’t going down without a fight.

My phone rang.

It was the hospital.

“Mrs. Hale? Your daughter is awake. She’s asking for you.”

I grabbed my purse and keys.