Chapter 1 - Play It Before They Lie Again
Mark Whitman was still photographing the fresh tire marks when Parker Grayson laughed beside his black Mercedes.
The small silver hatchback sat folded against the maple tree at the end of the driveway. Its hood had collapsed inward. Broken glass glittered across the wet pavement. A dark trail ran beneath the front end and disappeared beneath fallen October leaves.
Behind Mark, seventeen-year-old Lily stood in her gray hoodie with both hands wrapped around the spare key to a car she could no longer drive.
Parker lifted his phone and grinned.
“Move your junk next time.”
Lily flinched.
Claire pulled their daughter closer.
Mark rose slowly, turned toward his nephew, and held up his own phone.
“Say that again while the officer is listening.”
Vanessa Grayson stepped forward in her polished coat.
“He made a mistake. Don’t ruin his future.”
Mark’s phone vibrated.
He looked down.
One message from Ethan Grayson changed his face.
Headlights swept across the lawn seconds later. Ethan stepped out of a dark sedan wearing a suit, a black folder tucked beneath one arm and a small flash drive in his hand.
He walked past Vanessa without looking at her.
Then he stopped in front of Parker.
“Your dashcam recorded everything.”
Parker’s face went pale.
Ethan handed the flash drive to the police officer.
“Play it before they lie again.”
The officer took it.
Vanessa’s smile disappeared.
May you like
Mark placed one arm around Lily as the driveway finally stopped belonging to the loudest person standing in it.
It belonged to the evidence.
