Chapter 3 - The Timeline
At the hospital, Helena underwent a full examination.
The doctors documented bruising across her ribs, a sprained wrist, a shoulder injury, and swelling around her eye.
The medical records were timestamped.
Clara knew exactly why that mattered.
Time was difficult to manipulate.
People weren't.
A story could change.
A medical image couldn't.
At 5:12 a.m., the emergency physician handed Clara a preliminary report.
“Your mother is lucky.”
“Lucky?”
“The injuries could have been worse.”
Clara exhaled.
“Is there evidence consistent with blunt-force trauma?”
“Yes.”
“Could a baseball bat cause these injuries?”
“Absolutely.”
Clara nodded.
“Thank you.”
She returned to Helena's room.
Her mother was awake.
“You should sleep,” Clara said.
“I can't.”
“You can.”
“I keep thinking about Arthur.”
Clara sat beside her.
“What about him?”
“He didn't stop her.”
Clara said nothing.
Helena looked at her.
“He stood there.”
“Did he say anything?”
“He told Brooke to stop.”
Clara frowned.
“Once?”
Helena nodded.
“Then he told me to calm down.”
Clara's expression hardened.
“Did Brooke strike you more than once?”
Helena looked down.
“Yes.”
“How many?”
“I don't know.”
“Three?”
“Maybe.”
“Five?”
“I don't know.”
Clara took her mother's hand.
“Don't guess.”
Helena looked confused.
“Why?”
“Because we're going to build the truth from what you know, not what you fear.”
Helena nodded slowly.
That was what Clara had learned during years of investigations.
The truth didn't need decoration.
It needed preservation.
At 6:03 a.m., Clara received a message from her federal team.
Initial review complete. Relevant station footage preserved. Evidence logs secured.
She replied:
Expand preservation to Brooke and Arthur communications if legally available.
A second message arrived.
Understood.
Clara put the phone away.
Her mother stared at her.
“Who are you working with?”
“People who make sure records don't disappear.”
Helena smiled weakly.
“You sound like your father.”
Clara smiled.
“My father was stubborn.”
“He was disciplined.”
“Same thing.”
They both laughed quietly.
Then the hospital door opened.
Captain Landry entered.
Clara immediately stood.
“How did you get here?”
“Your mother is my detainee.”
“Not anymore.”
Landry looked annoyed.
“The arrest remains valid.”
“Based on what?”
“Witness testimony.”
“Whose?”
“Brooke's.”
“Any physical evidence?”
He hesitated.
“There's an investigation.”
“Where is the weapon?”
“We're still looking.”
Clara nodded.
“So the weapon exists now?”
Landry's eyes narrowed.
“I didn't say that.”
“You said you were still looking.”
He said nothing.
Clara stepped closer.
“Captain, I am going to ask you one question.”
“What?”
“Did you tell Officer Harris to omit the baseball bat from the initial report?”
Landry stared at her.
“No.”
Clara waited.
Then she showed him the preservation confirmation.
“We have the station audio.”
Landry's face went pale.
“You can't have that.”
“Apparently we do.”
He stepped backward.
Clara's voice remained calm.
“You have one opportunity to correct the record voluntarily.”
“I did nothing wrong.”
“Then you have nothing to fear.”
Landry looked at Helena.
Then at Clara.
He turned and left.
Helena whispered, “What happens now?”
May you like
Clara looked toward the door.
“Now we find out who is lying.”
