“Someone sent David a message.”
“What kind of message?”
“We don't know who sent it.”
Daniel's face became serious.
“What did it say?”
“They wanted to talk about yesterday.”
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Maybe it's the police.”
“Maybe.”
“Then let them contact the attorney.”
“That's what we're doing.”
Daniel nodded.
He seemed relieved.
Emily stood again.
“Get some rest.”
She switched off the main light, leaving the bedside lamp on.
When she closed the door, Daniel remained awake.
He listened to the quiet sounds of the house.
A cupboard opened downstairs.
David moved something across the kitchen counter.
Emily spoke softly on the phone.
Outside, a car passed.
Daniel turned his head toward the window.
The garden was visible in the dim evening light.
He could just make out the roses near the fence.
He remembered planting them years earlier, when the children were still young.
David had been a teenager then.
Emily had helped him carry bags of soil.
They had argued over where each flower should go.
Daniel smiled faintly at the memory.
Then his expression faded.
He closed his eyes.
He wanted everything to return to normal.
But outside, the dark sedan was still parked across the street.
And the person inside was still watching the house.
***
The following morning, David woke before sunrise.
He had barely slept.
His nose hurt, his cheek was swollen, and every time he closed his eyes he saw the officer's hand gripping his father's shirt.
He went downstairs quietly.
The kitchen was dark.
He poured a glass of water and stood by the window.
The street was empty.
The sedan was gone.
He stared at the place where it had been parked.
Then he checked his phone.
There were two missed calls from an unknown number and a message from Emily.
“Laura wants us to meet her this morning. Don't answer unknown calls until we speak with her.”
David replied.
“Okay.”
He placed the phone on the counter.
A few minutes later, Daniel appeared at the top of the stairs.
David turned immediately.
“Dad? What are you doing up?”
“I live here.”
“You're supposed to be resting.”
“I am resting. I just wanted water.”
David hurried over and helped him down the last few steps.
Daniel looked at him.
“You're becoming bossy.”
“Someone has to be.”
Daniel smiled.
David guided him to a chair.
“Sit down.”
Daniel obeyed.
David brought him water.
“Did you sleep?”
“A little.”
“Any headache?”
“Not much.”
“Dizziness?”
“Only when I stood up too quickly.”
David frowned.
“You need to tell Emily.”
Daniel took a sip.
“I will.”
David sat opposite him.
For a while, they said nothing.
Then Daniel looked at his son's face.
“Does it hurt?”
“A little.”
“Your mother would have been worried.”
David smiled faintly.
“She would have told me to stop fighting.”
Daniel looked down at his glass.
“She always said you had a strong heart and a quick temper.”
David laughed quietly.
“She wasn't wrong.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Your heart is not the problem, son.”
David waited.
“It's what you do when your heart is frightened.”
David lowered his eyes.
“I know.”
Daniel reached across the table.
“Don't carry yesterday by yourself.”
David took his hand.
“I won't.”
But even as he said it, he knew the day ahead would test that promise.
Because at nine o'clock, the family would meet the attorney.
And by then, the police department would have received the neighbor's recording, the hospital documents, and the first formal request for the complete body camera footage.
The incident that had begun in a quiet garden was moving beyond the neighborhood.
More people were asking questions.
More records were being collected.
And the version of events written in the officer's initial report was about to be examined much more closely.
At nine o'clock, Emily and David arrived at Laura Miller's office.
Daniel had wanted to come with them, but Emily had insisted that he remain at home and rest. His concussion was still causing occasional headaches, and the doctor had warned him not to overexert himself.
Before leaving, David had promised to call every hour.
Daniel had rolled his eyes at the idea.
“I've survived more than one morning without you checking on me.”
“Not after what happened yesterday,” David had replied.
Now, as they entered the attorney's office, David looked tired and tense.
Laura greeted them and invited them to sit.
“I reviewed the documents you sent last night,” she began. “The hospital records establish that your father suffered a concussion and bruising. Your medical photographs also document the injuries you sustained.”
David nodded.
“And Margaret's recording?” Emily asked.
“I watched it several times. It is useful, particularly because it shows the officer physically gripping your father's shirt before you enter the scene.”
“Does that prove he was wrong?” David asked.
“It proves that physical contact occurred. Whether that contact was lawful or justified depends on the circumstances, the reason for the encounter, and the full sequence of events.”
David leaned forward.
“He had no reason to grab him.”
“That is something we need to establish through the evidence.”
Laura opened a folder.