Chapter 1 - The Doorbell
The doorbell rang while Claire Bennett lay on the living-room floor, one hand wrapped around her stomach and the other reaching toward a phone she could no longer reach.
The sound was sharp enough to pull her back from the darkness gathering at the edge of her vision.
She tried to call out.
Only a weak breath escaped.
Another knock struck the front door.
“Claire?”
The voice belonged to Jenna Morales, the paramedic who lived two houses down.
“Claire, are you in there?”
Claire dragged her fingertips across the hardwood and knocked a fallen metal water bottle against the floor.
The noise was faint.
Jenna heard it.
The door was locked, but the narrow glass beside it showed Claire’s legs near the sofa and scattered medical forms across the room.
Jenna called emergency services, then used the spare key Claire had once given her for feeding the dog during a weekend trip.
She found Claire pale, shaking, and struggling to remain conscious.
“I’m here,” Jenna said, dropping to her knees. “Do not try to stand.”
“The babies…”
“We’re going to protect all three of you.”
Jenna checked her breathing, supported her position, and spoke steadily while sirens approached.
Within minutes, the living room filled with paramedics.
The blue hospital folder lay open on the floor.
One instruction had been circled in red by Claire’s obstetrician.
DO NOT DELAY TRANSPORT.
Jenna saw it.
So did the police officer who entered behind the EMS team.
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Blake had left Claire alone because his mother wanted to shop.
When he returned, the house would no longer be silent.
