The air in the grand foyer felt icy cold as Mark pulled out his phone from his coat.
His thumb pressed the screen quickly, dialing the emergency number without taking his eyes off Margarethe.
Mark: Call the police right now!
Margarethe: Mark, do not do something foolish based on her wild hysterical lie!
Mark: I am calling emergency services right this second, and you are not leaving!
Margarethe began walking quickly down the grand curved staircase, her satin gown rustling loudly.
She tried to put on a worried face, but her hands were shaking as she gripped the handrail.
Margarethe: Sarah fell because she was reckless and running up the steps too fast!
Mark: She pointed right at you, Margarethe! I saw the look on your face!
Margarethe: I tried to grab her wrist to save her from falling over!
Sarah: Liar... you pushed me so I couldn't get my trust fund!
Mark spoke into his phone with intense urgency, giving the operator the estate address immediately.
Mark: I need an ambulance and police officers at the Vance estate right now!
He ended the call and stepped directly between the bottom of the stairs and his sister.
Margarethe stopped on the bottom step, holding her head high despite her pale skin.
Margarethe: You have no proof of anything, Mark. It was an unfortunate accident.
Mark: We will see what the police say when they examine the balcony area.
Margarethe: This is my home, and I will not be spoken to like a criminal!
Mark: You won't step another inch closer to Sarah while she is down!
Sarah sobbed softly on the floor, clutching her arm while trying to stay completely still.
Mark knelt back down beside her, wiping a tear from her cheek with a gentle thumb.
Mark: Squeeze my hand, Sarah. The paramedics are two minutes away.
Sarah: My lower back hurts so much, Mark.
Mark: Do not move your legs. Just keep looking at me and stay calm.
Margarethe stood near the central pillar, pacing back and forth with growing anxiety in her eyes.
She glanced toward the front doors, calculating whether she could slip away to her private car.
Mark caught her looking toward the driveway and pointed his finger squarely at her face.
Mark: If you step toward that front door, I will stop you myself, Margarethe.
Margarethe: You cannot keep me captive in my own living room!
Mark: Watch me try until the sheriff gets here!
Outside, the faint sound of loud sirens began to echo through the long oak trees.
The sirens grew louder and closer, bouncing off the brick walls of the grand driveway outside.
Margarethe's composure began to crumble as red and blue lights flashed through the front glass windows.