I don't hurt people for fun. " He spun Brandon around, slamming him back against the tree. The boy's eyes widened with recognition as David removed his night vision goggles. Mason was starting to stir, groaning. Trevor remained dazed on the ground. Kyle hadn't moved, still pinned face-down and sobbing quietly.
David quickly untied Alicia with one hand, keeping Brandon secured with the other. As soon as her hands were free, Alicia ripped the duct tape from her mouth, gasping for air. "Daddy," she whispered, tears finally breaking free. "Check my left pocket," David instructed her. "There's zip ties. " Alicia's hands shook as she retrieved the plastic restraints.
Following her father's calm directions, she bound Brandon's hands behind his back. David moved methodically through the group, securing each boy while Alicia held the flashlight from his tactical vest. Mason started to struggle when David approached him, but one look at the Colonel's face made him go still. "My wrist," he whimpered as David bound his hands. "I think it's broken. " "Yes, it is," David confirmed without sympathy.
"Remember that pain the next time you think about hurting someone weaker than you. " When all four boys were secured, David gathered them near the fire. They sat in a miserable line, heads bowed, some crying quietly, others just staring blankly at the ground. Brandon's face was already swelling where it had hit the tree. "The police are on their way," David informed them, though he hadn't made any calls yet. "Your phones are evidence now.
Don't bother trying to delete anything. I already have copies of everything you've posted, sent, or deleted in the last month. " Trevor's head snapped up. "How? " "I'm very good at what I do," David said simply. "And what I do is protect people from threats. Right now, that means protecting my daughter from you. " He turned to Alicia, who stood trembling near the tree where she'd been bound.
His voice softened. Come here, sweetheart. Alicia stumbled forward into her father's arms, finally letting go completely. She pressed her face against his chest, her whole body shaking with sobs. It's over, David said firmly, holding her close.
It's over. David pulled out his phone, activating the camera. The firelight cast eerie shadows across the boys' faces as they sat in their miserable line, hands bound behind their backs. Let's start with you, Brandon, David said, his voice steady and cold. Tell me about the first time you tied my daughter to a tree.
Brandon's swollen face twitched. He glanced at his friends, then back at David. I don't Think carefully about your next words, David interrupted. I have surveillance photos, text messages, social media posts you thought you deleted. The truth comes out tonight, one way or another.
Alicia stood beside her father, arms crossed, watching Brandon squirm. Her fear had transformed into something harder, stronger. It Brandon's voice cracked. It was after school. We followed her on the path.
Names, David commanded. Who was involved? Me, Kyle, Trevor, and Mason, Brandon mumbled. We We grabbed her. Used some rope from Mason's truck.
We tied her to the tree and He stopped, hanging his head. And what? David pressed. We laughed at her. Brandon continued, his voice barely above a whisper.
Called her names, racial stuff. Left her there in the cold. David moved the camera to Kyle. Your turn. What happened when Mr.
Thompson found her? Kyle flinched. My dad, I mean, Brandon's dad called the sheriff. Said he'd handle it quietly. Make it go away.
And the sheriff agreed? David prompted. Yeah. Kyle nodded. Sheriff Wilkins always helps Councilman Hayes.
Keeps stuff quiet. Like when we vandalized the church. Or when Brandon got caught with drugs at school. Trevor started crying. Please, my parents don't know.
They'll know everything soon enough. David cut him off. Mason, tell me about tonight. Whose idea was it to grab Alicia again? Mason cradled his broken wrist.
Brandon said we had to shut her up. Teach her a real lesson. His dad said the family was causing trouble. Needed to be run out of town. Did Councilman Hayes know what you were planning?
Not exactly. Brandon interrupted quickly. He just said He said to handle it. Make them leave. He didn't say how.
David lowered the phone slightly. Alicia, do you have anything to say to them? Alicia stepped forward. Her voice shaking at first, but growing stronger with each word. You thought you could break me.
That I'd be too scared to fight back. But you don't know me. You don't know what I've survived before. Or what I'm capable of. She moved closer to Brandon, who couldn't meet her eyes.
You're not powerful. You're just scared little boys hiding behind your daddy's money and influence. But that's over now. Brandon started to speak, but Alicia cut him off. No.
You don't get to talk anymore. You get to sit there and think about how you're going to explain this to everyone. Your parents, your teachers, your friends. The whole town will know what you really are. David recorded for another 30 minutes, methodically documenting every incident, every cover-up, every name involved.
By the time he finished, the boys had confessed to dozens of crimes spanning the past 2 years. When red and blue lights finally flashed through the trees, David had everything he needed. State police officers, not local, swarmed the clearing called by an anonymous tip about a kidnapping in progress. Dawn was breaking when David walked into the offices of the River Valley Chronicle, the local newspaper that had been struggling against Councilman Hayes's influence for years. Sarah Chen, an investigative reporter, was already waiting.
"This better be good," she said, taking a sip of coffee. "It's not even 6:00 a. M. " David placed a USB drive on her desk. "Everything's there. Video confessions, financial records showing bribes, text messages, photos, every crime they committed, and every cover-up that followed. " Sarah's eyes widened as she started reviewing the files.