Chapter 3 - The Ambulance Arrives
The sirens cut through the neighborhood.
Red and blue lights flashed through the front windows.
Two paramedics rushed in with a stretcher.
"Where's the patient?" one of them asked.
I pointed to Grandma.
"She's right here. Recovering from wrist surgery, I believe she's been neglected and her medication may have been withheld."
Mom stepped forward.
"That's a lie. I've been taking care of her every day."
The paramedic ignored her and knelt beside Grandma.
"Ma'am, can you tell me your name?"
"Eleanor. Eleanor Greene."
"And where are you right now?"
"My daughter's house."
"Do you know what day it is?"
Grandma looked at me.
She remembered what I'd told her earlier.
"Tuesday," she said.
"Do you know why we're here?"
"My granddaughter called you."
The paramedic nodded.
"How are you feeling?"
"I feel scared."
"I'm going to check your vitals. Is that okay?"
"Please."
Mom watched the whole thing with her arms crossed.
"You're wasting your time," she said. "She's fine. She's just confused."
The paramedic looked at Grandma's wrist.
"Who wrapped this bandage?"
"I did," Mom said.
"It's too tight."
"I followed the doctor's instructions."
"The doctor would never tell you to wrap it this tightly. You're cutting off circulation."
Mom flushed.
"I didn't mean to hurt her."
"Intent doesn't matter. The fact is, you did."
---
I stepped outside while they loaded Grandma onto the stretcher.
Mara was already pulling into the driveway.
She got out of her car and walked toward me.
"Claire, are you okay?"
"I'm fine. But my grandmother isn't."
"I've got a team on standby. We need to secure the documents and get a statement from your grandmother before your mother can do anything else."
"She's inside. She's furious."
"I can imagine."
"Come on. I'll introduce you."
---
We walked back inside.
Mom was standing in the living room, watching the paramedics wheel Grandma out.
"Where are you taking her?"
"Fairfax Memorial," one of the paramedics said.
"I'll meet you there."
"No, you won't."
I stepped forward.
"Mom, you're not coming."
"She's my mother."
"She's my grandmother, and you've already hurt her enough."
Mara moved between us.
"I'm Special Agent Mara Voss from the state attorney general's office. Your daughter has informed me of possible elder abuse and financial fraud. I'm here to investigate."
Mom's face went white.
"You can't just walk into my house."
"I can with probable cause. And I have plenty."
"This is ridiculous."
"Ma'am, I'm going to need you to sit down and answer a few questions."
"I want a lawyer."
"You'll have the right to one. But first, I need to understand what's been going on."
---
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