Chapter 2 - Witnesses Who Saw Too Much
The crash had brought traffic to a complete standstill within moments. Drivers stepped out of their vehicles, some cautiously approaching while others stayed back, recording everything with their phones. Rain continued to fall, tapping softly against twisted metal and shattered glass.
Derek stormed toward Walter's sedan before the elderly man had even unbuckled his seat belt.
"Get out!" he shouted. "You smashed into my SUV! Do you have any idea how much this is going to cost?"
Walter slowly opened his door and stepped onto the wet pavement. Despite the impact, his movements were steady. He brushed a little dust from his jacket, adjusted his glasses, and looked first at both vehicles before meeting Derek's furious stare.
"I'm glad no one appears seriously injured," Walter said calmly.
His composed voice only seemed to anger Derek more.
"Forget injuries!" the younger man snapped. "You're paying for my vehicle. Right now."
The passenger, Kyle, joined in immediately.
"We don't need insurance. It'll only make things worse for you. Give us fifteen thousand dollars today, and we'll forget this ever happened."
Several nearby motorists exchanged puzzled looks.
One middle-aged woman whispered to her husband, "Who asks for cash before calling the police?"
Her husband quietly raised his phone, making sure the camera captured every word.
Kyle noticed.
"No recording!" he barked, pointing aggressively. "Mind your own business."
Instead of intimidating the crowd, his outburst drew even more attention. Additional drivers began filming from different angles.
Walter remained silent.
He simply observed the two men, as though he were memorizing every sentence they spoke.
"You seem very confident," he finally said.
Derek smirked.
"Because the law is simple. You hit us from behind. You're automatically responsible."
"Is that so?" Walter asked politely.
"It is."
Walter nodded without arguing.
"I've heard many people believe that."
Kyle folded his arms.
"So stop wasting time. Either transfer the money now or prepare to lose everything in court."
Walter glanced toward the damaged SUV. The brake lights were still glowing faintly through the rain.
Then his eyes settled on something almost hidden beneath the rear bumper—a small piece of plastic hanging by a wire.
It looked insignificant to everyone else.
To Walter, it was anything but.
His expression softened into the faintest smile.
Meanwhile, a young delivery driver who had witnessed the entire incident approached cautiously.
"I... I think I saw what happened," he said.
Derek immediately turned toward him.
"You saw the old man crash into us. That's all you need to remember."
The driver's confidence faded for a moment, but then he shook his head.
"No... your SUV cut him off first."
The surrounding crowd fell noticeably quieter.
For the first time since the collision, Derek's smile disappeared.
Walter slipped one hand into his coat pocket, feeling the familiar shape of his old leather notebook.
He had hoped never to use what it contained again.
May you like
But as more witnesses gathered and distant sirens echoed across the highway, he realized fate had brought him face to face with exactly the kind of criminals he had spent years studying.
Neither Derek nor Kyle had the slightest idea that the quiet retiree standing before them had already recognized their scam—and was patiently waiting for them to reveal one mistake too many.
