Chapter 6 - THE MISSING FOOTAGE
The memory card contained signs of remote access.
Someone entered Nora Bennett’s doorbell account twelve minutes after the accident.
The intruder deleted two seconds.
Michael was no longer authorized to investigate.
He gave the card to Captain Ward.
“This may be witness tampering.”
“Or a corrupted recording.”
“The missing section begins when the ball reaches the sprinkler.”
Captain Ward examined the file.
“Who had access to Nora’s account?”
“Nora. The security company. Anyone with her password.”
“Did Grant Collins install the system?”
Michael already knew the answer.
Collins Smart Living, a subsidiary of Grant’s development company, provided security systems to half the neighborhood.
Captain Ward ordered a forensic review.
That afternoon, Madison posted a statement online.
A ten-year-old boy had violently targeted her daughter.
His police officer father had arrived and intimidated the victims.
The post included a photograph of Ava’s red cheek.
It did not include Ethan’s bleeding lip.
Thousands of strangers commented.
Some demanded Michael lose his badge.
Others called Ethan dangerous.
Rebecca read the comments until her hands shook.
Ethan saw the post from the hallway.
“Why are they saying I attacked her?”
Rebecca closed the screen.
“They don’t know the truth.”
“You didn’t know either.”
Again, there was no answer.
At school, parents began messaging one another.
Caleb’s mother told him not to visit Ethan until the situation was resolved.
The other boy from the garden claimed he had not seen the kick.
Ethan stood alone with his soccer ball.
Madison’s story became stronger each time someone remained silent.
That evening, Nora Bennett finally came to the Parker house.
She carried pruning gloves in both hands.
“I saw it,” she said.
Michael invited her inside.
Nora remained near the doorway.
“The ball hit the sprinkler. It changed direction.”
“Will you tell the department?”
Fear crossed her face.
“Grant can take my house.”
“He cannot legally take your house for telling the truth.”
“He can make living here impossible.”
Rebecca stepped forward.
“He is already doing that to my son.”
Nora looked toward Ethan.
The bruise remained visible.
“I will think about it.”
Before she left, she gave Michael a printed email.
Someone had warned her not to cooperate.
The sender’s address was anonymous.
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But the final sentence was clear.
PEOPLE WHO CHALLENGE THE COLLINS FAMILY DO NOT STAY ON SEABREEZE LANE.
