Chapter 3 - SIX MEN AT THE DOOR
The first security SUV stopped outside in less than two minutes.
The second arrived twenty seconds later.
By then, Diane had moved the metal broom handle with her foot, trying to slide it beneath the table.
I saw her do it.
So did the camera.
Three guards entered while three stayed outside. The shift supervisor, Marcus Reed, recognized me immediately.
"Ms. Bennett? Are you injured?"
Before I could answer, Ryan stepped between us.
"False alarm," he said. "Family disagreement. My wife overreacted."
Marcus didn't even look at him.
"Ms. Bennett?"
"My mother-in-law attacked me with a metal broom handle. My husband restrained me after I defended myself."
Diane made a choking sound.
"That is a disgusting lie!"
Marcus raised one hand.
"Ma'am, please stay where you are."
"Do you know who my son is?"
Marcus glanced at Ryan, then back at her.
"I know who owns this property."
That silenced the room.
Ryan turned toward me slowly.
He hated being reminded.
"Claire," he warned.
Marcus noticed the mark on my forearm where Ryan had grabbed me.
"Did he do that?"
I nodded.
Ryan's face tightened. "I stopped her from attacking my mother."
"After your mother attacked me."
"She was trying to discipline you."
Even Diane looked surprised by that word.
Marcus's expression became unreadable.
"Sir, step away from Ms. Bennett."
Ryan laughed once. "This is my home."
"No, sir," Marcus said. "According to our account, it is not."
Two guards moved closer.
Ryan stared at me as if the deed itself were a betrayal.
Then Diane pointed at the camera above the kitchen door.
"Turn that thing off."
Marcus followed her finger.
"Why?"
She realized too late how that sounded.
I folded my arms.
"Because she knows exactly what it recorded."
Marcus touched his radio.
"Dispatch, preserve all interior feeds from the last thirty minutes. Lock the files. No local deletion access."
Ryan went pale.
May you like
And then Marcus said the words that changed everything.
"Police are already on the way."
