“I was here the night she fell.”
The sergeant’s face tightened.
Daniel saw it.
Kessler had been here too.
Not as sergeant.
Patrol Officer Ryan Kessler had arrived seventeen minutes after Ava’s fall.
His name appeared on a supplemental incident report.
Daniel remembered now.
Not his face.
The name.
RYAN KESSLER, OFFICER 418.
Kessler looked toward Daniel.
“Mr. Reed.”
Daniel’s voice became almost quiet.
“You wrote the supplemental.”
The officer said nothing.
Daniel continued.
“You interviewed her.”
Melissa’s eyes widened.
“You?”
Kessler released a slow breath.
“I assisted.”
Daniel remembered reading the report at two in the morning months after Ava died.
Witness Melissa Grant stated she observed juvenile female climb outside railing while taking photographs.
Daniel looked at Melissa.
“You said climb?”
Her face changed.
“No.”
The boardwalk seemed to fall away.
“What?”
Melissa stared at Kessler.
“I never said she climbed.”
Kessler’s jaw tightened.
“Ma’am.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
“I said I saw her outside where the railing should have been.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
Every sound around him became distant.
“What did you just say?”
Melissa looked at him.
Tears appeared instantly.
“I thought you knew.”
Daniel’s hand tightened around his camera until the knuckles whitened.
“Knew what?”
Melissa lowered the phone now.
Not off.
Still recording.
“The rail section had been removed.”
Daniel stared.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“The report said she crossed the rail.”
“I know what the report said.”
Melissa’s voice broke.
“I read it later.”
Daniel looked toward Kessler.
The sergeant’s face had changed completely.
“I need everyone to slow down.”
Daniel laughed.
The sound frightened even him.
“Four years is slow enough.”
Kessler raised one hand.
“Mr. Reed.”
“No.”
Daniel took another step backward.
“Do not tell me to calm down.”
“I didn't.”
“You were about to.”
Melissa whispered:
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“What did you see?”
She swallowed.
“The railing panel was gone.”
“When?”
“That afternoon.”
“Why?”
“Maintenance.”
Daniel’s vision blurred.
“Did you tell police?”
“Yes.”
Kessler spoke.
“The original scene had a temporary chain.”
Melissa turned toward him.
“A chain on one post.”
The officer stopped.
She continued.
“It was lying on the boards.”
“I told you that.”
Kessler looked around at the crowd.
Suddenly he appeared acutely aware of every phone.
“This discussion should not happen here.”
Daniel laughed again.
“Of course.”
Melissa looked at him.
“What are the photographs?”