The blue water rippled under the bright afternoon sun behind the white mansion.
Two American flags hung completely still from the tall stone pillars framing the deep end of the patio pool.
Victoria stood at the edge in her royal blue sequin dress, holding four-month-old Toby wrapped in a light blue swaddle.
Victoria: Take this child!
She extended both arms and opened her fingers wide, letting the baby plunge straight down into eight feet of water.
A loud splash echoed across the limestone patio as the infant sank under the surface, tiny air bubbles rushing upward.
Elena: No! God, please, no!
Across the stone yard, Elena dropped her laundry basket and sprinted along the pool edge in her navy uniform.
She leaped into the water without hesitation, diving deep toward the bottom where the blue blanket was slowly drifting down.
Her hands snatched the swaddle, kicking hard toward the sunlight until she broke through the surface gasping for breath.
Elena: You're safe now baby... I've got you, Toby! I've got you!
Toby coughed out water, letting out a loud, high-pitched scream as Elena held his wet face against her shoulder.
The white glass patio doors banged open with a deafening rattle, and Marcus Sterling rushed out in his tailored black suit.
Elena: Sir, she threw him in!
Marcus: What is happening here?
Elena stood shivering on the shallow steps, her finger shaking as she pointed straight at the woman in blue sequins.
Elena: She threw your baby into the deep pool!
Marcus marched forward, his face turning dark with blinding, murderous rage.
Marcus: How dare you! Get out of my house!
He shoved Victoria with both hands, sending her flying over the edge into the deep end with a massive splash.
Marcus dropped to his knees, taking his crying baby into his arms and kissing his wet forehead.
Marcus: Daddy's here. Nobody will ever hurt you again.
Victoria gasped for air as she surfaced, totally unaware that the safe inside the master study held a secret that would ruin her life forever.