Donovan approached, tipping his hat slightly. "Mr. Calder, I'm sorry you're going through this. What happened to your daughter... it's not just wrong, it's criminal."
Ethan remained calm. "Thank you for taking it seriously."
"We'll confront her with the footage first," Donovan said. "If she tries to obstruct, it'll only make things worse for her."
"She will," Ethan replied quietly. "She can't admit her own mistakes."
Donovan nodded grimly. "Then she'll fall hard."
The group moved toward the clubhouse. Residents nearby began whispering as the sheriff and marshals crossed the courtyard: uniforms, badges, quiet authority rippling through the atmosphere like a warning.
Vivian appeared in the doorway before they reached it. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the sheriff, but she smoothed her expression quickly, forcing an elegant smile. "Sheriff Donovan, I wasn't expecting visitors."
Donovan didn't return the smile. "We need to speak with you."
"Of course," she replied, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "About what?"
Rowan stepped forward, holding a tablet. "About this."
He tapped the screen. The hallway footage appeared—distorted, but clear enough: Vivian leading Mara toward the standards room, Mara visibly distressed, Vivian blocking the door.
The color drained from her face. "That footage is taken out of context," she said quickly. "She came willingly."
"Audio says otherwise," Rowan replied. He tapped again. The restored fragments played, her voice sharp, commanding, cold: "Distracting... violation... fix this now..."
Her lips parted, a breath caught between denial and panic. "That audio is manipulated!"