Grady looked at her with open hostility.
"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO TEACH ME THE LAW."
Catherine remained calm.
"I am asking you to explain the basis for your actions."
Parker looked toward the box.
He could clearly see that it was filled with brightly wrapped packages.
One had a birthday card attached.
Another contained a large decorative teddy bear.
Nothing about the contents suggested danger.
"Sir," Parker said quietly, "we haven't observed anything indicating a weapon."
Grady turned.
"DO YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH MY INSTRUCTIONS?"
"No, Sergeant."
"THEN FOLLOW THEM."
Parker looked down.
Catherine watched him carefully.
She recognized something she had encountered many times during her investigations.
An officer who knew a situation was becoming unreasonable but felt unable to challenge a superior.
It was not always a lack of judgment.
Sometimes it was fear.
Fear of being embarrassed.
Fear of retaliation.
Fear of losing opportunities within the department.
And sometimes, fear of simply saying that a colleague was wrong.
Catherine understood that.
But understanding it did not make it acceptable.
She looked toward Parker.
"Officer, may I ask you something?"
He hesitated.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Before entering this property, did either of you personally observe a violent act?"
Parker looked at Grady.
The sergeant immediately answered.
"YOU DON'T QUESTION MY OFFICER."
Catherine continued looking at Parker.
"I am asking him about his observations."
Parker swallowed.
"No, ma'am. We did not."
"Did you see anyone injured?"
"No."
"Did you observe anyone fighting?"
"No."
"Did you see anyone holding a weapon?"
Parker hesitated.
"No, ma'am."
Catherine nodded.
"Thank you."
Grady's expression darkened.
"THAT'S ENOUGH."
He walked back toward Catherine.
"YOU'RE MAKING THIS MORE DIFFICULT THAN IT NEEDS TO BE."
Catherine looked at him.
"I believe the situation became difficult when your department received information that was never verified."
"WE RESPOND TO EMERGENCY CALLS."
"And I respect that responsibility. But an emergency response does not remove the obligation to distinguish between an allegation and an established fact."
Grady said nothing.
Across the driveway, Vanessa had begun speaking urgently into her phone.
Catherine noticed.
She wondered whether Vanessa was contacting someone to find out what had happened.
Or whether she was attempting to prepare another version of events.
Either way, Catherine wanted the original report preserved.
"Officer Parker," she said, "I would like the dispatch recording and the original complaint preserved."
Grady immediately turned.
"YOU DON'T GET TO ORDER RECORDS."
"I am not ordering you to release anything. I am requesting that the original communication be preserved."
Parker nodded slightly.
"That request can be documented."
Grady glared at him.
"WHY ARE YOU ANSWERING HER?"
Parker looked uncomfortable.
"Because it's a request we can record, sir."
Catherine remained silent.
She did not want to create an unnecessary argument with the younger officer.
At that moment, Margaret slowly lowered herself into a nearby chair.
Her hands were still shaking.
Catherine glanced over.
"Mom, are you okay?"
Margaret nodded, although her face remained pale.
"I'm all right, sweetheart."
Catherine looked back toward Grady.
"Can we please allow the remaining guests to sit down?"
The sergeant hesitated.
Then he gave a short gesture.
"THEY CAN SIT. NOBODY LEAVES."
Several guests immediately sat down.
Daniel helped Margaret adjust her chair.
One of the women began collecting the broken pieces of ceramic from the ground.
The atmosphere remained tense, but at least the immediate danger appeared to be decreasing.
Madison, however, had not stopped filming.
She walked around the patrol vehicle to get a clearer view of Catherine and the officers.
"Can you say your name again?" she asked.
Catherine looked toward her.
"Why?"
"For the video."
"I have already identified myself to the officers."
Madison laughed.
"Come on. Just tell everyone who you are."
Catherine studied the young woman's expression.
"Are you recording this for personal use?"
Madison shrugged.
"Maybe."
"Have you recorded the entire incident from the beginning?"
"Why do you care?"
"Because the beginning matters as much as the part you are recording now."
Madison's smile faded.
She lowered her phone slightly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that a recording without context can create a misleading impression."
Madison looked toward her mother.
Vanessa quickly called out.
"Madison, keep recording."
Catherine turned toward Vanessa.
"Since you seem to have information about this incident, perhaps you can explain what you reported."
Vanessa raised her eyebrows.
"I already explained everything to the police."
"Then it should be easy to clarify."
Vanessa stepped closer to the property line.
"I heard shouting. I was concerned."
Catherine looked around the backyard.
"Who was shouting?"
"I don't know."
"What did you hear?"
"People arguing."
"Who was arguing?"
Vanessa hesitated.
Catherine continued.
"Did you see anyone being threatened?"
Vanessa crossed her arms.
"I didn't have to see everything to know something was wrong."
"Did you see a weapon?"
Vanessa looked away briefly.
"I heard there might be one."
"Who told you that?"
"I don't remember."
Catherine's expression became more serious.