Chapter 4: The Chain of Custody
The black-and-white cruiser didn't just pull up to the curb; it mounted the grass, tires screeching to a halt ten feet from the muddy edge of the field. Two other deputies pulled in right behind him, blocking every exit.
The driver’s door flew open. Sheriff David Miller stepped out, his hand resting instinctively on his holster, his eyes scanning the field until they locked onto the muddy figure of his daughter.
For a heartbreaking second, the battle-hardened sheriff looked like a broken man. He rushed past the frozen team of football players, dropping to his knees beside Chloe. Gently, he pulled off his department jacket, wrapping it around her shivering shoulders.
"Are you okay, sweetheart?" David asked, his voice shaking with a fury he was barely holding back.
"I'm okay, Dad," Chloe whispered, pointing a trembling finger at Jason. "He did it. And they recorded it."
David stood up slowly. The transformation from protective father to unyielding law enforcement officer was absolute. He turned his gaze toward Jason, who was now backed up against a row of blocking dummies, shaking in his cleats.
"Step forward, son," David said, his voice terrifyingly calm.
"Sheriff, wait—it was just a joke!" Jason stammered, holding his hands up. "We were just messing around! It was for social media!"
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"That video you recorded?" David replied, gesturing to the phone still clutched in Jason's sweaty palm. "That's not entertainment anymore. That's digital evidence of aggravated assault, malicious harassment, and civil rights violations."
David snapped the steel handcuffs onto Jason’s wrists with a sharp, metallic click that echoed across the silent field.
