“You—” Her face drained of color, then twisted with rage. “You were supposed to be on a plane.”
“Let go of my daughter.” David’s voice was low, lethal.
Evelyn tightened her grip. “You have no idea what you’re ruining. Do you know how much money—”
Lily twisted hard and sank her teeth into Evelyn’s hand.
Evelyn yelped, grip loosening. Lily broke free and ran straight into David’s arms.
He scooped her up, shielding her with his body, never taking his eyes off Evelyn.
“It’s over,” he said.
Evelyn laughed—a bitter, broken sound. “Over? You think I’m the only one? We’re connected higher than you can imagine. Lawyers. Judges. Businessmen. They’ll bury you.”
Police cruisers screeched into the lot. Officers poured out, weapons drawn.
Detective Marcus Reed—David’s longtime law-enforcement contact from three previous documentaries—jumped out of an unmarked car.
“David—back up!” Marcus shouted.
David didn’t move, keeping Lily behind him.
Evelyn kept talking, voice rising to a shriek. “He’s lying! This is a misunderstanding! We’re just doing children’s fashion portfolios!”
“Hands where we can see them,” an officer barked.