Chapter 3 - DON’T TOUCH MY SON
Michael did not shout again.
He did not threaten Madison.
He did not reach for his handcuffs.
That made his anger more frightening.
He crouched beside Ethan and examined his lip.
“Does your jaw hurt?”
Ethan nodded.
“Can you move it?”
Another nod.
Michael looked at Rebecca.
“Did you do this?”
Tears appeared in her eyes.
“I thought he deliberately hurt Ava.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Rebecca looked at Ethan.
“Yes.”
The word seemed to empty the garden.
Michael removed a clean cloth from his utility pouch and pressed it gently against Ethan’s lip.
Madison recovered first.
“Your son attacked my daughter.”
Michael looked toward Ava.
The red mark beneath her eye was already fading.
“Was she examined by a doctor?”
“She was hit in the face.”
“I can see that. I asked whether she needs medical attention.”
Madison’s mouth tightened.
“This is exactly the arrogance I expected from a police officer protecting his own family.”
Michael touched the button on his body camera.
A red light appeared.
“My body camera is now recording.”
Madison’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Michael noticed.
“You should have turned it on before you threatened me.”
“I have not threatened you.”
“You arrived in a police vehicle and shouted at me.”
“I told you not to strike my son.”
“He deserved to be punished.”
Michael moved one step closer.
“No child deserves to be hit by an unrelated adult.”
Rebecca flinched.
The words included her without naming her.
Ava pulled at Madison’s sleeve.
“Mom, can we go?”
Madison ignored her.
She pointed toward Ethan’s soccer ball.
“That boy kicked it directly at Ava.”
Ethan finally spoke.
“It hit the sprinkler.”
Madison looked down at him.
“You are lying.”
Michael’s voice sharpened.
“Do not question my son without me.”
One of Ethan’s friends, Caleb Foster, stood near the porch.
“I saw it bounce.”
Madison turned toward him.
“Were you playing with Ethan?”
“Yes.”
“Then you are protecting your friend.”
Caleb became silent.
A black luxury SUV pulled into the Collins driveway.
Grant Collins stepped out.
He was Madison’s husband and president of the Seabreeze Homeowners Association.
Madison walked toward him immediately.
“That officer threatened me.”
Michael looked at his body camera.
“You are currently being recorded making that claim.”
Grant did not appear concerned.
He studied the Parker house.
Then the soccer ball.
Then Ethan’s injured mouth.
“I think everyone should calm down.”
Michael stood beside his son.
“That should have happened before two adults raised their hands to a child.”
Grant looked at Rebecca.
“Two adults?”
Rebecca could not answer.
Ethan moved behind Michael.
He no longer wanted anyone to see his face.
Grant placed one hand on Madison’s shoulder.
“We will file a formal complaint.”
Madison smiled.
She believed the family’s influence would decide what happened next.
Michael looked toward the police cruiser.
May you like
The dashboard camera’s red indicator was still blinking.
It had recorded more than Madison realized.
