Chapter 6 - The Hunt and the Arrest
The news of the warrants made local headlines quickly. Realizing the police were closing in, Eleanor and Vanessa went on the run, fleeing Eleanor’s suburban house before the squad cars arrived.
For forty-eight hours, the city was on high alert. The story of a mother defending her child against her own corrupt family captured the public's attention, and support began pouring in. Meals were delivered to the hospital, strangers sent stuffed animals for Eli, and top legal advocates volunteered to represent us pro bono.
Meanwhile, Eli was making steady physical progress. His internal bleeding was stabilized, his arm was placed in a bright blue cast—which he requested so he could draw dinosaurs on it—and his appetite began to return.
"Mommy," Eli said one evening as we watched an animated movie on the hospital TV. "Are Grandma and Aunt Vanessa coming back?"
"No, baby," I said, stroking his dark curls. "They are gone, and police officers are making sure they can never come near us again."
At that exact moment, Detective Miller walked into the room with a faint smile on his face. He gave me a subtle head nod. I stepped out into the hallway to speak with him.
"We got them," Miller announced. "They tried to cross the state line using cash from one of Eleanor's hidden accounts. A state trooper recognized their vehicle at a rest stop. Vanessa fought the officers during the arrest, which adds assault on law enforcement to her charges."
"Where are they now?"
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"In county jail, held without bail," Miller said. "The prosecutor is filing maximum charges. They won't be getting out, Natalie."
I pressed my back against the hospital wall and let out a long, shuddering breath. For the first time in days, the suffocating weight on my chest lifted.
