Mitchell looked toward Margaret.
MITCHELL:
"She does."
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Mitchell received another message.
She glanced at the screen and frowned.
MITCHELL:
"That's interesting."
Daniel noticed her expression.
DANIEL:
"What is it?"
MITCHELL:
"The original call wasn't the only communication associated with this address today."
Daniel looked at her.
MITCHELL:
"Dispatch received an earlier inquiry concerning your property several days ago. The caller raised concerns about repeated disturbances and requested additional patrol attention."
Daniel slowly turned toward Victoria.
She immediately looked away.
MITCHELL:
"I don't have the full details yet, but the earlier contact is being flagged for review."
DANIEL:
"Several days ago?"
MITCHELL:
"Yes."
DANIEL:
"Was the complaint made by the same person?"
Mitchell looked down at her tablet.
MITCHELL:
"The caller information appears to match."
Daniel's expression became serious.
He remembered the strange incidents over the previous two weeks.
The anonymous complaints.
The unfamiliar vehicles passing slowly in front of his home.
The messages from the homeowners' association.
The sudden interest in his guests and personal activities.
At the time, he had considered them unrelated inconveniences.
Now they seemed connected.
He looked toward Victoria.
DANIEL:
"How long have you been making complaints about my family?"
VICTORIA:
"I have no idea what you're talking about."
DANIEL:
"Lieutenant, I would like the previous reports preserved as well."
MITCHELL:
"We can request the relevant records."
Victoria became visibly agitated.
VICTORIA:
"This is ridiculous. I have every right to report concerns about my neighborhood."
MITCHELL:
"Yes, you do. But the accuracy of those reports is also important."
VICTORIA:
"You're treating me like I'm the criminal here!"
MITCHELL:
"Nobody has made that determination."
VICTORIA:
"Well, it certainly feels that way."
Daniel looked at her.
DANIEL:
"Now imagine how my mother felt when your complaint brought armed officers into her birthday celebration."
Victoria said nothing.
Meanwhile, Bennett approached Lieutenant Mitchell quietly.
OFFICER BENNETT:
"Lieutenant, there's something else."
MITCHELL:
"What?"
BENNETT:
"I checked the incident history associated with this address. There are no previous violent calls involving the homeowner."
MITCHELL:
"How many calls?"
BENNETT:
"Three contacts in the last several weeks. All related to neighborhood complaints."
Mitchell looked at the information.
BENNETT:
"No documented assaults. No weapons incidents. No previous threats."
Daniel listened carefully.
DANIEL:
"That information should have been reviewed before you arrived."
Bennett nodded.
OFFICER BENNETT:
"Yes, sir. It should have."
Grayson looked toward his partner.
GRAYSON:
"You're making it sound like we did something wrong before we've even finished the investigation."
BENNETT:
"I'm saying we should establish the facts."
GRAYSON:
"We had a report of a potentially armed subject."
BENNETT:
"And now we know the caller didn't actually see a weapon."
GRAYSON:
"That information came afterward."
MITCHELL:
"Enough."
Both officers fell silent.
MITCHELL:
"We will review the dispatch information, the body-camera footage, and the available recordings. Until then, nobody is going to speculate."
She turned toward Daniel.
MITCHELL:
"Sir, I would also recommend that you keep copies of your recordings and document the names of the witnesses who were present."
DANIEL:
"I intend to."
MITCHELL:
"Would you be willing to provide a formal statement?"
DANIEL:
"Yes."
MITCHELL:
"Thank you."
For the first time that afternoon, Daniel felt that someone was actually listening.
But the tension had not disappeared.
Victoria was still standing beside the cruiser.
Her phone was now lowered.
Her eyes moved repeatedly between Daniel and Lieutenant Mitchell.
She seemed to be calculating what to say next.
Then she suddenly spoke.
VICTORIA:
"There's something you don't know about him."
Everyone turned.
Daniel looked directly at her.
DANIEL:
"What are you talking about?"
Victoria hesitated.
VICTORIA:
"You think you're dealing with a harmless family man, but you don't know everything about his past."
Daniel's face remained expressionless.
DANIEL:
"If you have information relevant to this investigation, provide it."
VICTORIA:
"I heard things."
MITCHELL:
"What things?"
VICTORIA:
"People talk. They say he has connections. They say he can make problems disappear."
Daniel slowly shook his head.
DANIEL:
"You're now repeating rumors about me?"
VICTORIA:
"I'm just saying there are things people should know."
MITCHELL:
"Do you have any specific information, or are you repeating something you heard from another person?"
Victoria looked uncomfortable.
VICTORIA:
"I don't remember exactly where I heard it."
MITCHELL:
"Then I need you to be careful about presenting it as fact."
Daniel stepped closer to the table.
He picked up a small birthday photograph that had fallen during the confrontation.
It showed Margaret surrounded by her grandchildren, smiling beneath the decorations.
He looked at it for a moment.
Then he placed it carefully back on the table.
DANIEL:
"Lieutenant, I think we should stop discussing rumors and focus on the evidence."
MITCHELL:
"Agreed."