The man quickly dropped to one knee beside Grace.
"Call an ambulance now!"
His voice carried urgency, not violence.
Noah hesitated.
Confused.
Terrified.
The stranger pulled out his phone and immediately contacted emergency services.
Then he looked at Grace again.
His face showed genuine concern.
The man introduced himself as Daniel Pierce.
Years earlier, Grace had saved his life.
Daniel had once worked for a company involved in a major corruption scandal.
When he became a whistleblower, powerful people targeted him.
Most people refused to help.
Grace didn't.
She defended him publicly and ensured his evidence reached investigators.
Because of her actions, Daniel escaped financial ruin and potential imprisonment.
He never forgot what she did.
Recently, Daniel learned about the threats against Grace.
Concerned for her safety, he had been privately investigating some of the people responsible.
The baseball bat wasn't intended for Grace.
He carried it after receiving information that dangerous individuals might be on the property.
When he arrived at the mansion, he discovered the horrifying scene.
Now he realized he was already too late.
Someone had reached Grace first.
But that someone had also made a mistake.