Chapter 5 - THE CAMERA ACROSS THE STREET
The Collins family did not own the only camera on Seabreeze Lane.
Across the street lived seventy-two-year-old Nora Bennett.
Her doorbell camera faced the Parker garden.
Nora had been trimming roses when the ball struck Ava.
She had seen Rebecca slap Ethan.
She had seen Madison raise her hand.
But when Michael knocked on her door, she did not open it.
“Nora, I only want to ask whether your camera recorded the garden.”
Silence followed.
Michael saw a shadow move behind the curtain.
He understood.
Grant Collins controlled the homeowners association.
Nora had fought him over her garden fence the previous year.
The association threatened her with thousands of dollars in fines.
She was afraid.
Michael left his card beneath the door.
“You do not have to speak tonight.”
The next morning, the department suspended his access to the case.
Captain Ward called him into her office.
“Madison claims you used your uniform to frighten her.”
“My body camera shows otherwise.”
“Your body camera begins after you arrived.”
“The dashcam started before I left the cruiser.”
“The vehicle was facing the street.”
“It captured audio.”
Captain Ward lowered her voice.
“Grant Collins has contacted the mayor.”
Michael leaned back.
“Then investigate me carefully.”
“You could be suspended.”
“Then suspend me carefully.”
At home, Ethan did not eat breakfast.
Rebecca prepared his favorite pancakes.
He touched none of them.
A bruise had formed near his mouth.
When she tried to examine it, he moved away.
“I said I’m sorry.”
Ethan looked at her.
“You keep saying it because you want me to say it’s okay.”
Rebecca stopped.
He was right.
Her apology had been an attempt to escape her guilt.
It had not yet been about what he needed.
“I won’t ask you to forgive me.”
Ethan returned his gaze to the window.
Across the street, Nora Bennett’s curtain moved.
A small delivery envelope appeared outside the Parker gate.
Michael opened it.
Inside was a memory card.
There was no note.
He inserted it into his computer.
Nora’s doorbell footage showed the Parker garden.
Ethan kicked the ball.
The ball crossed the lawn.
Then the video froze.
Two seconds were missing.
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When the picture returned, Ava was holding her face.
Someone had damaged the exact moment that could prove what happened.
