“So, you were the one who put in the Amber Alert?” I asked, trying to stall for time. I had to get in the vicinity of other people, and I hoped these hallways had security cameras and that someone was sitting behind a desk watching everything. I wanted to kill this bitch right where she stood, but I had to think smart because she had my baby.

“No, I didn’t, but I did see it. That was a sign; this baby belongs with me.”

Yeah, she was a lunatic.

“Well, the alert has been dropped, because it was based on false allegations.” I told her, hoping those words dug into her skin like a hot pitchfork.

“Shut up, before I shoot you.”

“Shoot me? And then what? Before you make it out of here, people will be all over you.” I was getting angrier by the second. If this bitch thought that she was going anywhere with my baby, she must have been smoking something. I was a geek about mine, and I would go to war over my kids.

I was grateful to see one of the office doors open and out came some people. Mari popped me on the back of the head so hard, my ears stopped up. I fell to my knees. Stunned. Groggy. All I could hear was a door slam. My baby. Oh my god, my baby.

“Miss? Are you okay? What happened?” I heard voices. But I was dizzy.

“No. Help! My baby. That woman kidnapped my . . . she stole my baby! She stole my baby!” I screamed. “Call the police! That bitch stole my baby!” I stood up and pushed the two people in front of me out of my way. “My baby! Help me! Help me please!” I screamed at anyone who would listen as I started running, trying to catch Mari.

MARI

Mission accomplished! I should have shot that homewrecker in the head instead of hitting her in it. However, she was right. A gunshot in a doctor’s office? That noise would be so loud, I’d end up on the 6 o’clock news. And I’d come too far to do that. So, instead I hit her, put the gun away, secured the car seat and diaper bag and left out. No one even saw me.

I made my way to my car, and everything was a mess. My keys were in my bag, on my shoulders. I had the diaper bag on the other shoulder and the baby in my other hand. I couldn’t get to my keys. Hell, I wasn’t used to having a baby around. I set the car seat on the hood of the car and took a second to peek at my little princess. Oh, my God! She’s gorgeous! Her little beady eyes flew open from her nap, then they closed right back.