Claire was smiling in front of a flower garden.
Her silver-blonde hair was tied behind her head, and she was holding a small bouquet of flowers.
James remembered taking that photograph.
She had been laughing because he had accidentally dropped one of the flowerpots.
He swallowed.
Then he locked his phone.
A nurse approached.
NURSE: "Mr. Morgan?"
James stood immediately.
JAMES: "Yes. Is my mother okay?"
NURSE: "The doctor is still examining her. We need a little more time."
James looked worried.
JAMES: "Can I see her?"
NURSE: "As soon as the medical team allows it, we'll let you know."
James nodded.
JAMES: "Please tell me if anything changes."
NURSE: "Of course."
The nurse walked away.
James sat down again.
He rubbed his hands together.
He kept remembering the moment Claire had fallen.
Her knees had suddenly buckled.
Her arms had moved outward.
Then she had collapsed onto the gravel.
He remembered shouting her name.
He remembered Ethan calling for medical assistance.
And he remembered the terrible silence when she did not respond.
He closed his eyes.
JAMES: "Please be okay."
A few minutes later, his phone rang.
It was Margaret.
James answered immediately.
JAMES: "Hello?"
MARGARET: "James, how is Claire?"
James looked toward the emergency department doors.
JAMES: "They're still examining her. I haven't heard anything yet."
MARGARET: "I'm so sorry."
JAMES: "Thank you for staying there."
MARGARET: "Of course. I wouldn't leave without helping."
James took a breath.
JAMES: "Did the police say anything?"
Margaret hesitated.
MARGARET: "Another officer arrived. He's asking questions about what happened."
JAMES: "What about Ryan?"
MARGARET: "He's still there."
James looked down.
JAMES: "Did you tell them what you saw?"
MARGARET: "Yes. I told the younger officer that Ryan grabbed Claire before you came outside."
James nodded.
JAMES: "Thank you, Margaret. That means a lot."
MARGARET: "I also have the video I recorded."
James sat up straighter.
JAMES: "You recorded it?"
MARGARET: "Yes. I started recording when I heard the shouting. I managed to capture part of the confrontation."
James was silent for a moment.
JAMES: "Please keep that recording safe."
MARGARET: "I will."
JAMES: "Don't delete anything."
MARGARET: "I won't."
James looked toward the emergency department.
JAMES: "I need to know why this happened."
MARGARET: "We'll find out."
The call ended.
James placed his phone on his lap.
He felt slightly relieved that someone had recorded part of the incident.
But his mother's condition remained his biggest concern.
***
Back at the house, Sergeant Laura Bennett arrived.
She stepped out of her police SUV and looked toward the driveway.
The first thing she noticed was the pickup truck.
Then she saw Ryan standing beside it.
Ethan walked toward her.
ETHAN: "Sergeant."
Laura looked at him.
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Give me a summary."
Ethan explained that a confrontation had taken place between Ryan, Claire, and James.
He described arriving during the physical struggle.
He explained that Claire had collapsed shortly afterward and that an ambulance had transported her to the hospital.
Laura listened carefully.
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Where is the officer involved?"
Ethan pointed toward Ryan.
Laura turned.
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Officer Cole, come here."
Ryan approached.
RYAN: "Sergeant."
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Tell me what happened."
Ryan began explaining his version of events.
He said he had approached Claire to speak with her.
He claimed she had become difficult to deal with.
He then said James had come outside and confronted him.
According to Ryan, James had become aggressive, forcing him to defend himself.
Laura listened without interrupting.
When Ryan finished, she asked a direct question.
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Why did you grab the woman by her shirt?"
Ryan shifted his weight.
RYAN: "I was trying to keep her from moving away."
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Was she attempting to run?"
Ryan paused.
RYAN: "She was moving around."
SERGEANT BENNETT: "That isn't the same question."
Ryan looked uncomfortable.
Laura continued.
SERGEANT BENNETT: "What reason did you have to physically restrain her?"
RYAN: "I believed the situation required it."
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Based on what?"
Ryan looked toward Ethan.
Then he looked back at Laura.
RYAN: "I don't remember every detail."
Laura's expression became more serious.
SERGEANT BENNETT: "You need to provide an accurate account. This is a serious incident."
Ryan nodded reluctantly.
Laura turned toward Ethan.
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Did you activate your body camera?"
ETHAN: "Yes."
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Good. Preserve the recording."
ETHAN: "Understood."
SERGEANT BENNETT: "What about Officer Cole's body camera?"
ETHAN: "We haven't verified whether it was recording."
Laura looked at Ryan.
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Was your body camera activated?"
RYAN: "I believe it was."
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Then we will verify that."
She took out a notebook.
SERGEANT BENNETT: "I also want the witness's contact information and the original recording preserved."
Ethan nodded.
Margaret approached them.
MARGARET: "I can give you the recording."
Laura turned toward her.
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Thank you. My name is Sergeant Bennett. I will need to take your statement."
Margaret nodded.
MARGARET: "I saw the entire beginning of the confrontation."
Laura looked toward the house.
SERGEANT BENNETT: "Were you inside when it started?"