She sat down and pushed several letters toward Marcus. "Then they started on others. The Jacksons got tired of being pulled over every time they left their driveway. The Petersons couldn't take the constant anonymous tips about drug activity. Everyone who sold got the same offer from Vision Heights Development."
Marcus examined the letters: official notices of code violations, police reports, and finally lowball offers from the developer. The pattern was obvious.
"Three days ago," Mrs. Carter continued, her voice stronger now, "Captain Holt himself came to my door. Said he'd hate to see an elderly widow like me have trouble with the law. That's when Angela started checking on me every day."
Marcus's jaw tightened. "Did Holt mention the developer?"
"Not directly. But the Vision Heights representative arrived an hour later with papers, talking about how unsafe the neighborhood was becoming." She straightened in her chair. "This is my home. My Herbert and I built our life here. I won't be bullied out of it."
Marcus pulled out his phone, photographing each document. "May I take these? My lawyer needs to see the pattern."
"Take whatever helps." Mrs. Carter stood and walked to a desk drawer. "I have more. The Robinson family left copies of everything before they moved. Said someone needed to keep proof."
For the next hour, Marcus sorted through papers, building a timeline. Property records showed Vision Heights buying homes at roughly forty percent below market value, always within days of police incidents.
His phone buzzed. A text from Diana Washington read: Angela's arraignment at 11:00 a.m. Judge Matthews presiding.
Marcus checked his watch. 8:45 a.m.
"Mrs. Carter, I need to get to the courthouse. Will you be okay?"
"I'm not going anywhere," she said firmly. "Tell Angela we're all praying for her."
At the courthouse, Marcus found Diana waiting outside courtroom C. Her expression was grim.
"It's worse than we thought," she said quietly. "Matthews and Holt golf together at Crystal Lake. He's already denied three of my motions this morning."
Inside, the courtroom felt heavy with tension. Angela sat straight-backed at the defendant's table, still wearing the previous day's clothes. Captain Holt lounged in the front row, smirking.
Judge Matthews entered, barely glancing at the defense table. "Case number 2547, State versus Brooks. Charges of obstruction and inciting civil unrest."
Diana stood. "Your Honor, my client is a respected community member with no prior record. We request release on her own recognizance."
"Objection," the prosecutor interrupted. "The defendant actively resisted officers and encouraged others to interfere with police business. She remains a threat to public order."
Matthews nodded. "Agreed. Bail is set at $500,000."
Marcus felt his fists clench. The amount was astronomical for the charges, clearly meant to keep Angela locked up.
"Your Honor," Diana protested, "that amount is punitive and—"