Mr. Harris Blamed Noah for Scratching His Car — Then the Boy Showed Him a Recording That Changed Everything
Chapter 6 — A Convenient Suspect
They replayed Noah’s video.
This time they ignored Rachel.
They watched the blue pickup truck.
At one point, the camera briefly captured someone sitting in the passenger seat.
Gray sweatshirt.
Baseball cap.
Victor.
He had been watching.
Watching the children.
Watching Noah running beside the driveway.
Watching Mr. Harris leave for his afternoon walk.
Victor knew exactly who would be blamed if damage appeared later.
Claire looked sick.
“He scratched the car just to distract us?”
Rachel nodded slowly.
“Possibly.”
“From what?”
“The missing letter.”
Mr. Harris shook his head.
“That doesn’t make sense. Why leave obvious damage at all?”
Noah zoomed into the driveway recording.
“What’s that?”
Victor had crouched briefly beside the rear wheel.
Mr. Harris hadn’t noticed before.
“Play it slower.”
Victor reached underneath the car.
Then stood.
Mr. Harris immediately walked outside.
He crouched near the rear wheel.
Something black was attached beneath the bumper.
A small rectangular device.
Claire stared at it.
“Is that a tracker?”
Rachel backed away.
“Don’t touch it.”
Mr. Harris called police.
Now the situation wasn’t about vandalism.
Someone had entered private property.
Stolen documents.
Damaged a vehicle.
And apparently attached a tracking device underneath it.
When Officer Elena Brooks arrived, she carefully photographed everything.
Then she asked Rachel a question that made the entire group uncomfortable.
“Does Bridgemont know you’re here?”
Rachel shook her head.
“No.”
Officer Brooks looked toward the street.
“Then let’s hope that’s true.”
