Yet, the red notebook showed her handwriting beside the first three roots. Zuri opened the damaged camera from the second case. Its memory card survived. The final recording began inside an airport inspection vehicle during heavy rain. Simone sat in the passenger seat.
Peter drove. If Celeste reaches the files, Simone said she will show the girls only the pages that make me look guilty. They deserve the complete truth. Nia leaned closer. Their mother admitted helping design quiet transfer.
She believed adult employees would pose as children's guardians and no real child would be moved. When she discovered actual children had been used, she began collecting records with Peter and Hayes. Why didn't she go to the police? Zuri asked. Hayes answered.
She did. My supervisor returned the evidence to the airline and called it an internal service dispute. On the video, Simone held up a list. Celeste did not act alone. Someone inside airport law enforcement approved every false guardian credential.
The vehicle suddenly turned. Peter's recorded voice sharpened. That truck is following us. Headlights filled the rear window. The camera fell sideways as the inspection vehicle struck the barrier.
Metal screamed. Glass broke. The image went dark. The official report claimed Peter was not inside the vehicle. Yet the recording proved he had been driving.
Peter touched the scar beside his hairline. I woke below the road. Simone was still inside. Someone pulled me out before emergency crews arrived. Who?
Officer Mercer asked. I never saw the face. The memory card contained one final frame after the crash. A person stood beside the damaged vehicle wearing an airport police uniform. The face remained outside the image, but a hand reached toward the camera.
On its wrist was the same cracked black watch Officer Hayes wore. Mercer looked at her. Hayes did not step back. I reached the crash before the ambulance. Simone called me 30 seconds before impact.
Why were you erased from the report? My supervisor ordered it. Did you remove Peter? Yes, he was alive and someone was returning to finish the job. Did you leave Simone in the vehicle?
Zuri asked. Pain crossed Hayes's face. She had no pulse. Nia turned away. The answer hurt, but it did not prove Hayes caused the crash.
The airport police brought Valerie Cain onto the secured video connection. When shown the records, she offered full cooperation. Celeste paid me to activate the twins false guardian profile. Valerie said. She said the cases contained the only copies.
Celeste demanded a lawyer. Valerie named the masked man who escaped the jet bridge. Deputy Chief Alan Rusk, Mara Hayes's former supervisor. Rusk had approved the false guardian credentials, buried Simone's complaint, and ordered Hayes out of the crash report. Kansas City police issued an airportwide alert.