PART 10
The county social worker stepped forward gently.
“Mr. Bennett, did you leave your home voluntarily?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Walter’s jaw trembled.
“Because my grandson locked us upstairs and told us he would put my wife in a home if we told anyone what he was doing.”
Colin exploded.
“That is a lie!”
Max growled.
Grace turned.
“Lower your voice.”
Colin pointed at me.
“He’s manipulating them! He’s some military psycho living out here alone with a dog.”
Grace didn’t blink.
“Ryan Carter is a decorated veteran and a registered property owner in this county.”
Colin sneered.
“Oh, great. So he gets special treatment.”
“No,” Grace said. “He gets listened to because he called me with evidence.”
That word changed Colin’s face.
Evidence.
I held up my phone.
“My porch camera recorded everything you said at the gate.”
Colin’s voice filled the porch from the video.
“After that, I’m selling their house, their land, all of it. I’ll put them somewhere they can’t embarrass me again.”
Grace’s face went hard.
Then Walter pulled out another plastic bag.
Inside were bank statements, land sale papers, and a small thumb drive.
June’s voice shook but did not break.
“I copied everything before he took the computer.”
Colin stared at her.
“You little—”
Max lunged one step forward and barked once.
One.
Deep.
Violent.
Colin went silent.
May you like
Grace turned to him.
“Hands where I can see them.”
