Chapter 5 - THE CRUISER IN THE VIDEO
Investigator Santos had not been assigned to my case because of me.
Not initially.
She had been investigating Brock Timmons for something else.
Missing evidence.
Altered call logs.
Domestic disturbance reports that disappeared before reaching supervisors.
My address appeared in her review twice.
Both incidents had been classified as “verbal disagreement.”
Neither contained photographs.
Neither mentioned Lydia.
Neither mentioned visible damage inside our home.
Then Santos received an automatic license-plate camera alert showing Brock’s cruiser outside my neighborhood during a period when his official log placed him four miles away.
She started pulling private security footage.
A gas station.
A pharmacy.
Then my neighbor’s doorbell camera.
That was the video on the tablet.
Trent’s black pickup leaving my driveway.
Brock’s cruiser visible nearby.
Time-stamped before the emergency call.
Timmons stared at the screen.
“That proves nothing.”
Santos looked at him.
“Then give me your body camera.”
His silence answered first.
“Battery malfunction.”
“Of course.”
He glanced toward Harry.
“This isn’t your business.”
Harry tightened his arms around Lydia.
“It became my business when you told me to lie about my sister.”
Santos looked at Lydia.
Then at me.
I was being pushed through the ER doors.
“Deputy Timmons,” she said, “step away from the family.”
He did not move.
“Now.”
Hospital security shifted closer.
For the first time, Brock obeyed.
But before the doors closed, I saw him reach toward his pocket.
Not for a weapon.
His phone.
He typed something quickly.
Santos saw it too.
“Who are you contacting?”
“Nobody.”
She held out her hand.
“Then show me.”
Brock locked the screen.
That was the moment Santos knew there was someone else still moving.
May you like
Trent.
And wherever my husband was going, Brock had just warned him.
