Yeah. I help a lot of older folks in the neighborhood with their computers and security cameras. Been backing up footage for months just in case. Andre pulled out his laptop. Most people don't realize their systems override after 30 days unless you save the files.
Malcolm leaned forward. You have security footage from around here? From like half the block. Plus some businesses near the harbor where I help with their Wi-Fi. Andre opened several folders of video files.
I always make copies when I'm working on their systems. Better safe than sorry, right? Malcolm felt a spark of hope for the first time since the fire. The harbor. Andre, do you have any backup footage from Saturday morning?
Anywhere near where Barlow confronted us? Let me check. Andre scrolled through dated folders. Yeah, there's some from the coffee shop on the corner. And the boutique across the street had their outdoor cameras running.
They gathered around the laptop as Andre pulled up the files. Malcolm watched footage from different angles showing the harbor walkway where everything started. There, he pointed. "That camera has a clear view of where we were standing. " The video quality wasn't perfect, but it clearly showed Malcolm and Titan before Barlow arrived. The German Shepherd sat calmly at heel, completely contradicting the officer's claim about an aggressive dog.
"Can you back it up about 30 seconds? " Malcolm asked. "I need to see something specific. " Andre rewound the footage. The new angle revealed something crucial. Titan was seated and calm mere seconds before Barlow's assault, destroying any claim that the kick was a response to threatening behavior. "This is it. " Malcolm said quietly.
"This proves Barlow lied in his report. The dog was never aggressive. I was never combative. He created a confrontation and then falsified the documentation. And we've got months of evidence showing it wasn't an isolated incident. " Evelyn added.
"It was part of a pattern targeting specific homeowners. " Malcolm looked at the materials spread across the table. Handwritten records from trusted church elders, documented patterns of harassment, security footage backing up witness accounts. The corrupt system had dismissed these people as powerless, never imagining they were quietly building an airtight case. "They thought we were easy targets. " Evelyn said, reading his expression. "They never considered that old folks with phone trees and notebooks could bring them down. " Naomi squeezed her son's shoulder.
"Or that a teenager backing up security footage might have exactly what we needed. " Malcolm nodded, energy returning as pieces clicked into place. This wasn't just scattered complaints anymore. This was coordinated evidence of systematic harassment tied to real estate pressure. And it had been gathering right under Barlow's nose, collected by the very people he thought too weak to fight back. The fluorescent lights hummed in Naomi's empty clinic as Malcolm leaned over Andre's shoulder, watching him navigate through folders of backed-up security footage.
Evelyn sat nearby, sorting through her collection of documented incidents, while Naomi kept watch at the front window for early patients. "Here's the pharmacy back up from Saturday," Andre said, clicking through timestamps. "Their camera covers part of the harbor walkway. " The footage was grainier than modern security systems, but the scene was unmistakable. Malcolm and Titan appeared in frame at 11:23 a.m., walking past the corner drugstore. The German Shepherd moved with perfect discipline, staying close to Malcolm's left leg.
"Stop there," Malcolm pointed. "Can you zoom in? " Andre enhanced the image. The crucial moment played out in perfect clarity. Titan sitting calmly at Malcolm's side, head level, no aggression whatsoever. The timestamp showed 11:24:47 a.m., less than 30 seconds before Barlow approached.
"That's what we needed," Malcolm said. "This proves Titan was under control when Barlow claimed he was lunging. The timing destroys his whole narrative. " Evelyn nodded grimly. "No wonder they made the body cam footage disappear. This shows exactly what really happened. " Malcolm's phone buzzed.
A message from his bureau tech contact about the burner phone recovered from the parking garage attack. He opened the file and began reading through extracted text messages. "Listen to this," he said. "Tell K the South Block is clear after today's pressure. Moving on schedule for Q3 numbers.
That's dated last month. "What does that mean? " Naomi asked, rejoining them from her watch position. "It means they're working on a timeline," Malcolm explained. Quarterly real estate closings. They're coordinating the harassment to force sales by specific dates.
He scrolled through more messages. Creel confirms two more holdouts ready to fold. Send crew to Bell property tonight. Make it look random. The casual cruelty made his jaw clench.
"Here's the smoking gun," he said, pointing to one exchange. Sgt. K clearing remaining holdouts before quarter close. Premium bonus for each lot secured. "Sgt.
Creel," Evelyn spat the name. She's been running interference for Mercer this whole time. Malcolm nodded. She coordinates which properties get targeted, makes sure complaints disappear, probably handles the payoffs, too. This ties the whole operation together.
Real estate pressure, selective enforcement, orchestrated intimidation. Andre had been quiet, still examining the security footage. "Uncle Malcolm, look at this frame. You can actually see Barlow's car slowing down before he even claims to notice Titan. He was hunting for a reason to stop you. " "Save everything," Malcolm instructed.
Multiple copies, different locations. They've already tried destroying evidence once. His phone buzzed again, his FBI supervisor calling. Malcolm stepped into Naomi's office to take it privately. 10 minutes later, he emerged with new energy in his stride.
"The Bureau's back in," he announced. These messages plus the arson attempt give us multiple federal predicates. Civil rights violations, conspiracy, extortion across property lines. They're authorizing full surveillance starting today. "What about your internal review? " Naomi asked.
"Suspended once they saw the pharmacy footage. Hard to paint me as the aggressor when video shows Titan sitting calmly before Barlow attacked. " Evelyn smiled. "Sometimes the truth just needs a little help getting free. " Malcolm's phone lit up with another message. His expression darkened as he read it. "What is it? " Naomi asked.
"One of Gloria's neighbors just called. Mercer's people are moving fast. They've scheduled a closing meeting for tomorrow morning, trying to grab her property while she's still reeling from the fire. " "Those vultures! " Evelyn hissed. "They burned down her home, then swoop in to take advantage while she's vulnerable. " "They think she's broken? " Naomi added. "That she'll sign anything just to escape? " Malcolm stood silently for a moment, thinking.
The others watched him, recognizing his tactical assessment expression from years of federal work. "Andre, can you get me everything you have on Mercer's shell companies? Property records, tax files, anything that shows the pattern? " "Already compiled," Andre said, pulling up another folder. "I've been tracking their different names for months. Same players, just shuffling paperwork. " Malcolm studied the documents, then checked something on his phone.
Finally, he looked up with cold determination. "We're not going to stop tomorrow's meeting," he said. "What? " Evelyn straightened in her chair. "Malcolm, they're trying to steal Gloria's property. " "I know, and we're going to let them try. " His voice was steel wrapped in velvet. "Because this time, they'll be doing it under federal surveillance with documented evidence of their prior intimidation and witnesses ready to testify.
Understanding dawned on Naomi's face. You're going to let them walk right into their own trap. Exactly. They think Gloria is alone and defeated. They have no idea we've been building a case.
Let them come to that meeting thinking they've won. It'll be the last property they try to steal. Andre finished backing up the latest files. All the evidence is secured, Uncle Malcolm. Multiple copies, different drives.