"I don't want to be scared."
Tanya felt the sentence in her chest.
"I know."
That evening, she found a child therapist through the county employee-assistance network but paid privately to avoid any appearance that she was using public resources for special treatment. Jordan initially refused to participate.
"I'm not crazy," he said.
"Therapy is not for crazy people."
"Then why do I have to go?"
"Because something happened to you that adults are having trouble carrying. You're allowed help carrying it too."
Jordan agreed to one appointment.
Julian agreed only if Tanya stayed in the room.
Friday night, after both boys were asleep, Tanya sat at the kitchen table with Patricia's attorney letter, the union press conference transcript, the security emails, and a copy of Hayes's personnel history.
For the first time, she seriously considered doing nothing further publicly.
The board wanted quiet.
The union wanted quiet.
Her children needed quiet.
If she stepped away, an independent process would still exist. Maybe Hayes would receive discipline. Maybe Patricia would lose the HOA presidency. Maybe the news cycle would move on.
Jordan could go back to basketball.
Julian could stop seeing cameras everywhere.
Tanya closed the file.
Her phone buzzed.
Carmen.
CALL ME. I FOUND THE BODY CAM. THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH YOUR REQUEST.
Tanya stared at the screen.
Then called.
Carmen answered immediately.
"You alone?"
"Yes."
"I got Hayes's full body-camera file through the Tribune request."
Tanya sat straighter.
"County counsel told me ours wasn't available yet."
"That's the problem. I asked for the request log. Your office's preservation and access request was received first. It was logged, assigned, and then marked fulfilled with a note that the relevant footage had a technical limitation and could not be produced at that time."
"Technical limitation?"
"The file is complete."
Tanya's voice became very quiet.
"Who signed the fulfillment notation?"
"Captain Daniel Morrison."
Tanya knew the name.
Operations captain.
Reported directly to the chief.
"Are you sure?"
"I have the log."
"Send everything to county counsel, not directly to me."
Carmen paused.
"You're not going to listen?"
"Not until counsel confirms chain and preservation."
"Tanya, there's audio you need to hear."
"I will. Properly."
Carmen exhaled.
"This is why you're harder to write about than everyone thinks."
"Is that a compliment?"
"I'm not sure yet."
The next morning, Malcolm Pierce called at 7:11.
"The Tribune is right."
Tanya sat up in bed.
"About Morrison?"
"Yes. Your request was marked technically unavailable. The same file was then produced to the Tribune after their legal department challenged the delay."