“Then we need to determine what happened immediately before the first strike.”
Reed nodded.
Angela picked up her folder.
“Until we have that, no one should be making conclusions.”
***
Later that morning, Margaret received a call from the department.
A woman introduced herself as Lieutenant Angela Carter.
“Mrs. Wilson, I'm calling regarding the incident involving Daniel Brooks.”
Margaret sat upright.
“Yes?”
“I understand you recorded part of the encounter.”
“I did.”
“Would you be willing to provide a formal statement and allow us to review the original recording?”
Margaret hesitated.
“I've already spoken with Daniel's family. They're working with an attorney.”
“That is completely understandable. You may coordinate through your attorney or theirs. We do not want you to feel pressured.”
Margaret appreciated the tone.
“I'm willing to tell you what I saw.”
“Thank you. We can arrange a convenient time.”
Margaret glanced toward Daniel's house.
“Can I ask something?”
“Of course.”
“Will you investigate what happened before I started recording?”
“Yes. We're requesting the complete body camera footage and dispatch records.”
“Because I didn't see how it began.”
“I understand.”
Margaret took a breath.
“I don't want anyone saying I witnessed something I didn't.”
“That is exactly why we want your statement to be precise.”
Margaret agreed to arrange an interview through the attorneys.
After the call, she walked outside.
The sun was shining over the neighborhood.
Daniel's garden looked peaceful, but she noticed that the flowers near the driveway had begun to droop.
She picked up the watering can.
As she watered the roses, a car pulled up outside her house.
A young man stepped out.
He wore a gray jacket and carried a small envelope.
“Excuse me,” he called.
Margaret turned.
“Yes?”
“Are you Margaret Wilson?”
“Who wants to know?”
He approached the gate but did not open it.
“My name is Kevin. I'm looking for Daniel Brooks.”
Margaret put the watering can down.
“Why?”
“I need to speak with him.”
“About what?”
Kevin glanced toward the street.
“Something that happened before the officer arrived.”
Margaret stared at him.
“What do you mean?”
He looked uncomfortable.
“I think you should know that the original complaint may not have come from the person you think.”
Margaret's expression changed.
“Who made the complaint?”
Kevin looked down at the envelope.
“I don't know everything. But I know the complaint involved the property next door.”
Margaret frowned.
“Daniel doesn't own the property next door.”
“That's why I'm here.”
He held out the envelope.
“Could you give this to his family?”
Margaret did not take it immediately.
“Who are you?”
“Someone who used to work for the company that manages the property.”
Margaret looked at the envelope.
“What company?”
“Brookstone Property Services.”
The name meant nothing to her.
“Why don't you speak to the police?”
Kevin swallowed.
“I will. I just wanted the family to know first.”
Margaret accepted the envelope.
“What's inside?”
“Copies of a few documents.”
He stepped back.
“Please don't throw them away.”
Then he turned and walked toward his car.
Margaret watched him leave.
She looked down at the envelope.
Something about the encounter felt important.
She immediately called Emily.
***
Emily arrived at Margaret's house less than twenty minutes later.
Margaret handed her the envelope.
“This young man came by. He said he used to work for a property management company.”
Emily opened it carefully.
Inside were several printed documents.
The first appeared to be a maintenance complaint.
The second was an email exchange.
The third was a copy of a property inspection request.
Emily read the documents slowly.
The complaint concerned the boundary between Daniel's garden and a neighboring property.
Someone had claimed that Daniel had damaged a section of fencing and refused to allow maintenance workers to access the area.
But the date on the complaint was several days earlier.
Emily turned to the email.
A property manager had instructed a maintenance contractor to inspect the fence and take photographs.
Another message mentioned that the owner wanted the area cleared before a scheduled property inspection.
Emily frowned.
“Why would this involve Dad?”
Margaret pointed toward the third page.
“Look at the name.”
Emily read it.
The complaint had been filed under the name of a property manager named Robert Collins.
The contact number was unfamiliar.
A handwritten note appeared at the bottom.
“Do not proceed until boundary ownership is confirmed.”
Emily looked up.
“This is strange.”
Margaret nodded.
“The young man said the complaint may not have come from who we think.”
Emily examined the documents again.
“Did he say why he brought these?”
“He said he wanted the family to know.”
Emily took photographs of every page.
Then she called Laura.
When the attorney answered, Emily explained the visit.
Laura asked her to read the document dates and names.
“Don't hand those documents to anyone yet,” Laura said. “Keep the originals safe. Send me clear copies.”
Emily agreed.
“Could this explain why the officer came?”
“It may be relevant. But we need to establish whether the complaint is connected to the police response.”
Emily looked at the papers.
“Should we tell the investigator?”
“Yes. We'll provide the documents through the proper channel and ask them to verify the dispatch information.”
Emily thanked her.