"Yeah! Call the police immediately! Who knows if her husband is already dead in there?"
"This is terrifying—murdering her own husband? That's a crime! You must report it!"
"Did the husband have life insurance?" someone asked suspiciously, their voice low but loud enough for the others to hear. "Why is the wife acting so calm? Could this be... planned?"
"Madam, you should call the police right away."
"Yes, call the police!"
The collective weight of their accusations pressed against me like a storm surge. Evelyn hesitated, clearly bolstered by the mob-like fervor of the crowd. Her eyes bore into mine with a loathing I had never seen before.
"Maya, what do you say?" she hissed, her voice thick with venom. "Should I call the police? Don't come crying and begging for mercy later!"
I met her gaze evenly, my face an expressionless mask. The tension between us stretched taut, broken only by Lucia's furious shout.
"What is this?" Lucia screamed. She turned sharply toward the crowd, her eyes blazing with frustration. "Now isn't the time for police or some conspiracy theories! We're wasting time! We need to save him!"