"I told them there was a disturbance!"
Parker looked down at the device.
"The report also references a possible firearm."
Vanessa's expression changed.
For a fraction of a second, she appeared genuinely surprised.
Then she quickly recovered.
"I said I was worried someone might have one."
Catherine looked directly at her.
"Did you see one?"
"No."
"Did anyone tell you that a guest was carrying one?"
Vanessa did not answer.
Catherine continued.
"Did you hear anyone threaten to use a weapon?"
Vanessa looked toward Grady.
"I don't have to answer all these questions."
Catherine nodded.
"That's your choice."
But the damage had already been done.
The discrepancy between Vanessa's statements was becoming increasingly obvious.
She had initially described an active violent confrontation.
Now she was admitting that she had not witnessed a weapon, an injury, or even a physical altercation.
Parker looked toward Grady.
"Sergeant, perhaps we should review the original call before proceeding."
Grady rubbed his jaw.
"That's what we're doing."
Catherine remained patient.
She knew that the next few minutes could determine whether the officers recognized the seriousness of the situation or continued trying to justify their initial response.
She looked toward Margaret.
Her mother was sitting quietly, holding a glass of water.
Daniel stood beside her.
The birthday cake remained untouched.
The candles were still arranged on top.
A large pink ribbon had fallen onto the ground near the table.
It was a heartbreaking contrast.
A celebration that had taken weeks to organize had been transformed into an investigation scene.
Catherine looked at the cake for a moment.
Then she looked back at Grady.
"Sergeant, I would like to make a formal request that the officers' body camera recordings be preserved."
Grady frowned.
"WHY?"
"Because they contain the complete interaction from the moment you arrived."
"We RECORD EVERYTHING."
"Then preserving the footage should be straightforward."
Grady looked at Parker.
"MAKE A NOTE OF IT."
Parker entered something into his device.
Catherine continued.
"I would also like the patrol vehicle camera recordings, dispatch audio, incident report, and any communication associated with the original complaint preserved."
Grady crossed his arms.
"YOU'RE BUILDING A CASE AGAINST US?"
Catherine looked at him.
"I am ensuring that the available evidence remains intact."
"YOU HAVEN'T EVEN FILED A COMPLAINT."
"Not yet."
The words hung in the air.
Madison looked up from her phone.
Vanessa's expression hardened.
Grady stared at Catherine.
"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?"
"It means I have not determined what happened yet. I want the evidence preserved before reaching any conclusions."
Parker appeared relieved by the answer.
Grady did not.
He stepped closer.
"YOU THINK YOU CAN COME HERE AND INTIMIDATE US WITH YOUR POSITION?"
Catherine remained still.
"No, Sergeant. I think everyone should be treated according to the same standards, regardless of their position."
Grady opened his mouth to respond.
But before he could speak, Parker's radio crackled again.
This time, the voice on the other end sounded different.
It was the watch commander.
"Unit Twelve, the communications supervisor has reviewed the initial call. We need you to confirm whether you have established probable cause for any further detention or search."
Grady looked at Parker.
Then at Catherine.
The younger officer waited.
Grady finally pressed the microphone.
"We are still evaluating the situation."
The commander responded immediately.
"Then do not expand the search without a lawful basis. Provide your current observations and explain the discrepancy between the reported violence and the scene you encountered."
Grady's jaw tightened.
"Copy."
The radio fell silent.
Catherine looked toward the sergeant.
"That seems like a reasonable instruction."
Grady turned sharply.
"DO NOT."
Catherine stopped speaking.
She had made her point.
The next development would need to come from the officers themselves.
Parker approached Catherine.
"Ma'am, I want to apologize for the confusion."
Grady immediately turned.
"PARKER!"
The younger officer stopped.
Catherine looked at him.
"I appreciate that you are trying to establish what happened."
Parker lowered his voice.
"We received the information as an emergency call. We were told there could be an armed individual."
"I understand that."
"We didn't know what we were walking into."
Catherine nodded.
"That is precisely why verification and proper communication are important."
Parker glanced toward Grady.
"I understand."
The sergeant stepped between them.
"THIS CONVERSATION IS OVER."
Parker returned to his position.
Catherine looked at Grady.
"Sergeant, I have one final question."
He gave her an exhausted stare.
"What?"
"Did you receive any instruction to enter the property, or did you decide to approach the gathering based on the initial dispatch information?"
Grady did not answer.
Catherine waited.
"Sergeant?"
"We responded to a call."
"That does not answer my question."
Grady looked away.
The silence was becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
Then Parker spoke.
"We were dispatched to investigate the reported emergency. The decision to enter the driveway was made when we arrived."
Catherine nodded slowly.
"Thank you for clarifying."
Grady turned toward him.
"THAT'S ENOUGH, PARKER!"
The younger officer fell silent again.
At that moment, a phone began ringing near the patio.