Chapter 3 - The Cold Hard Truth
The paramedics lifted Sophie onto the stretcher.
They secured a cervical collar around her small neck just to be safe.
I refused to leave her side for a single second.
While we waited, the hotel manager scurried into the ballroom carrying a silver tablet.
He looked terrified.
He handed the tablet directly to the lead officer.
"This is the playback from the last twenty minutes, sir."
The officer tapped the screen.
He didn't mute the volume.
The crystal-clear video played for everyone standing nearby to see.
There was Preston on the screen.
Looking around shiftily.
Slipping his own iPhone into Sophie's little denim jacket while she was distracted by the wedding cake.
There was Preston grabbing the microphone.
Creating the scene.
Pulling the phone out.
And then, the horrible grand finale.
The screen showed my brother grabbing the heavy oak board.
Raising it with full force.
And bringing it crashing down onto an innocent eight-year-old girl.
The video stopped.
The ballroom was dead silent.
The officer looked up from the tablet.
His eyes were dark with fury.
May you like
He looked at my father.
"She tripped, huh?"
