SEVEN MONTHS IN THE DARK: THE MOTHER WHO BROKE THE SILENCE

David lunged.

He didn't go for the gun. He slammed into Eleanor’s side, throwing his entire weight against her.

The gun went off with a deafening crack, the bullet shattering a window. Eleanor screamed, dropping the camera as she crashed to the floor with David on top of her.

“Get the phone!” David roared, struggling to hold her arms down.

I placed my baby safely in the deep armchair, forcing my battered body to move. I crawled across the floorboards. Eleanor was fighting like a wild animal, kicking and scratching. She managed to free one hand and struck David across the face with the butt of the gun.

Blood sprayed across his cheek, but he didn't let go. He pinned her arm to the floor.

I reached her waist and ripped the phone from her belt.

“You little bitch!” Eleanor shrieked. “The passcode is locked! You can’t do anything with it!”

I backed away, hands shaking as I woke the screen. She was wrong. I didn't need to unlock the hidden folders to do what I needed to do. I just needed the internet connection she had brought with her camera equipment.

I opened the cloud drive app. For seven months, I hadn't been able to upload the evidence because the attic had a signal blocker. But out here, on the edge of town, the signal was strong.

I hit Select All.

Seven months of audio.

Seven months of video.

The bank statements. The subscriber lists.

I hit Share.

Not to the police. The police were on her payroll.

I typed in the email addresses of every major news outlet in the state, the FBI field office, and the state attorney general.

The progress bar appeared.

Uploading 42 files.

10%...

Eleanor saw the screen glowing in my hand. Her eyes widened in absolute terror.

“No!” she screamed, finding a sudden burst of frantic strength. She kicked David off her, sending him crashing into the table. She scrambled toward me, raising the gun.

“Give it to me!”

45%...

“Shoot me,” I said, staring directly into the barrel of the gun. “It won’t stop the upload.”

70%...

Eleanor’s finger tightened on the trigger. I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact, praying my baby would be found by someone kind.

A gunshot rang out.

But I didn't feel any pain.

I opened my eyes.

David stood behind Eleanor. He had picked up his father’s heavy hunting rifle from the wall display.

Eleanor dropped her gun, looking down at her shoulder in shock. A dark red stain began to spread across her blouse. She collapsed to her knees, gasping for air, the fight completely draining out of her.