Chapter 10 - A Neighbor Speaks
Police officers began interviewing neighbors one by one.
Most claimed they had heard arguments inside the Collins house for years.
But one elderly woman stepped forward carrying an old tablet computer.
"My name is Eleanor Pierce," she said.
"I think you should see something."
Detective Nolan accepted the device.
"There are security cameras on my porch."
She pressed play.
The recording displayed dozens of ordinary days.
Margaret carrying groceries.
Cleaning the yard.
Taking out trash alone.
Then another clip appeared.
Daniel screaming in the driveway.
Linda throwing a grocery bag toward Margaret.
Fruit rolled across the sidewalk.
Margaret quietly picked everything up herself.
The next clip was worse.
Winter.
Snow covered the ground.
Margaret stood outside wearing only a thin sweater.
Daniel locked the front door.
She remained outside nearly forty minutes before someone finally opened it.
Detective Morris looked away.
Rebecca clenched her jaw.
Michael remained expressionless, but his voice became colder.
"How many recordings do you have?"
Eleanor answered softly.
"Three years' worth."
Daniel's confidence completely disappeared.
Linda whispered,
"Delete them."
Eleanor looked offended.
"I kept them because I was afraid one day she wouldn't survive."
Margaret stared at her neighbor.
"You knew?"
"I wanted to help many times."
"Why didn't you?"
Tears filled Eleanor's eyes.
"You always defended them."
Margaret lowered her head.
She had.
Every single time.
Detective Nolan carefully copied every video.
"This establishes a long-term pattern of abuse."
Daniel turned toward his mother again.
"Mom..."
His voice sounded different now.
Desperate.
"We can still fix this."
Margaret answered quietly.
"You had fifteen years."
Outside...
News reporters began arriving.
Someone inside the police department had leaked information.
Camera crews gathered across the street.
May you like
Within minutes...
The Collins house became the center of attention for the entire city.
