The neighbors crowded the doorway, chattering amongst themselves.


    The reporter, camera in hand, had already started filming.


    Tracy stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips, blocking Yvonne and Sandra from entering or seeing Hans.


    "Get out of here right now, and don''t even think about hurting my Hans again. If you don''t pay up, I''ll go live again tonight and ruin your reputation for good."


    "We''re reporters. Can we interview you and the child?" one of the journalists asked, holding a microphone and trying to squeeze past, but Tracy shoved him back.


    "Why interview me? Why don''t you interview this evil woman? She beat my son and refuses to paypensation. Does she have no fear of divine retribution?!"


    Tracy shouted righteously, then lunged forward, grabbing Sandra by the cor and pping her across the face.


    "It''s all your fault, you seductress! You pretended to sponsor Hans, but you just took him away to abuse him! I''ll kill you, you damn witch!"


    Sandra had never encountered anyone so barbaric. Tracy''s grip on her cor was choking her, and her face stung from the p, burning with pain.


    "Sandra!" Seeing this, Yvonne grabbed Tracy''s hand and shoved her away.


    Tracy stumbled back a few steps and fell to the ground, letting out a blood-curdling


    scream.


    "She''s hitting me! The celebrity is hitting me! First they abuse my son, and now theye to my house to beat me! They''re trying to kill my whole family! The lives of us poor people are so hard! There''s no justice in this world!"


    Tracy sat on the floor, thrashing and wailing like a banshee.


    Howard, still looking meek and timid, said to Yvonne and Sandra, "The boy is badly hurt. Maybe you should just give us some money. It''s not like you''re short on it, anyway."


    Yvonne was so angry she almostughed. Just because she wasn''t short on money, she was expected to let them extort her?


    If she paid them off today, it would be an admission of guilt, a stain she could never wash away.


    Yvonne''s face was cold as she watched Tracy''s theatrical disy without a word.


    Tracy''s tantrum didn''tst long,


    rever. The sound or P


    sirens


    se from downstairs, and soon. several uniformed officers were making their way up the corridor.


    "We received a report that you two are suspected of defamation and extortion. Pleasee with us for questioning. Where''s the child? We need to speak with him as well


    The lead officer pushed through the crowd, intending to enter the apartment.


    Seeing this, Tracy jumped up from the floor and blocked the officer''s path.


    "My son is sleeping! You can''t go in there and scare him! Get out, all of you, or I''ll sue you for trespassing!" she shrieked.


    Her reward for shrieking was to be handcuffed for obstructing a police investigation. With a shiny new pair of bracelets, Tracy finally quieted down a bit.


    The police began questioning those involved in the case. Howard, looking as honest and timid as ever, trembled uncontrobly as the officer spoke to him.


    The only evidence they provided to the police was a medical report, but they had nothing else to prove that Yvonne or Sandra had caused the boy''s injuries.


    The police examined Hans'' injuries and confirmed they were consistent with being beaten.


    When the police asked Hans how he got the injuries, whether Yvonne bad caused them, or if she had ever hit


    or abused himans just stared at the floor remainingpletely silent.