Chapter 2 – The Camera Never Lied
Chapter 2 – The Camera Never Lied
The ballroom doors burst open.
Two paramedics rushed inside, followed by Chicago police officers.
The lead paramedic knelt beside Sophie, gently examining the wound on her head.
"We need to take her to the hospital now."
She looked at me.
"Stay with her. She's conscious, but we don't want to take any chances."
As they lifted Sophie onto a stretcher, Preston finally found his voice.
"Officer, that child stole my phone."
One of the officers glanced at the blood-covered menu board lying on the floor.
"Did she also force you to hit her with this?"
Preston hesitated.
"It... wasn't like that."
My mother stepped forward.
"My son simply reacted. He was emotional."
The officer remained expressionless.
"So a grown man assaulted an eight-year-old because he was emotional?"
No one answered.
Then a calm voice came from the ballroom entrance.
"Officers... you'll want to see this before taking anyone's statement."
A man in a dark suit approached.
"David Morales. Director of Security for the Whitmore Hotel."
He held a small black evidence drive.
"Our security cameras recorded everything."
Preston's face lost its color.
"What cameras?"
David looked directly at him.
"The ballroom."
"The entrance."
"The reception tables."
"The hallway outside."
"Every angle."
Silence swept across the room.
"The footage has already been copied."
"No one can erase it."
The officer accepted the drive.
"We'll review it immediately."
For the first time that evening...
Preston looked afraid.
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Because lies can fool people.
They cannot fool a camera.
