Chapter 5 - THE GARAGE
The video did not show Celestine touching the brakes.
That distinction saved us from making a stupid accusation too early.
It showed her entering.
9:42 p.m.
Mara’s security camera had been placed on a shelf behind storage boxes.
Why?
I did not know.
Celestine crossed the garage.
Opened Mara’s car door.
Leaned inside.
Then walked out of frame.
Six minutes later, she returned carrying something small.
The camera angle did not show what.
She crouched near the left rear wheel.
Forty-three seconds.
Stood.
Left.
Suspicious.
Not conclusive.
She could have dropped something.
Checked a tire.
Retrieved jewelry.
Anything.
Detective Ellis applied for the original home-security cloud records.
Most had expired.
Our current system retained only ninety days.
Mara had copied the clip herself.
Authentication would rely on metadata and device records.
Still possible.
Then the old mechanic.
Riverside Motor Works.
The owner, Sam Keller, remembered Mara because she argued about the price.
That sounded right.
They flushed the brake fluid.
Replaced one rear caliper seal.
Test drove.
“No leak when she left.”
Could failure develop two days later?
Possible.
Could contaminated fluid appear that quickly naturally?
Unusual.
The original police sample had been discarded after evidence retention expired.
Bad.
Not misconduct.
Routine for a closed accidental-death case.
So there would be no magical retesting.
We had to live with what records existed.
Mara’s USB included photographs.
Brake fluid in a clear cup.
Dark particles.
Date:
Morning of crash.
She had taken it herself?
Maybe.
One note:
CEL said car smelled hot after she borrowed it. Why was she driving it?
Celestine had borrowed Mara’s car?
I had no idea.
The Bellbird financial investigation advanced too.
Silver Row Advisory belonged to:
Owen Trask’s sister.
But bank records showed regular transfers onward to an account benefiting Celestine.
How much?
Approximately $286,000 over two years.
Could those be legitimate consulting payments?
Celestine said yes.
She had privately advised Bellbird on brand packaging.
Did Lark & Thread know?
No disclosure found.
Potential conflict.
Not yet proven embezzlement.
The company’s new owners opened their own audit.
I did not control it.
Good.
Then my restraining-order hearing.
Celestine testified.
I slapped her.
True.
She feared escalation.
Potentially reasonable.
I had not contacted her afterward.
Also true.
The judge entered a mutual no-contact order except through counsel while criminal matters proceeded.
No finding she was innocent.
No finding I was dangerous beyond the incident.
Specific.
My misdemeanor assault case resolved through diversion later:
Anger-management course.
Fine.
No further contact.
Dismissal after compliance.
I accepted.
Poppy asked why I had “homework for hitting.”
“Because I hit Celestine when I didn’t need to.”
“But she burned Dolly.”
“Yes.”
“And threatened me.”
“Yes.”
“So?”
“So I still choose what I do with my hands.”
She frowned.
“You saved Dolly.”
“That part was right.”
“And slap?”
“Wrong.”
She considered.
“Two things.”
“Yes.”
Children can hold complexity.
Adults struggle.
Then Dr. Morris called.
Poppy had remembered something during play therapy.
Not because she was pushed.
It came while repairing the doll.
“Mommy put the shiny thing in Dolly after Aunt Celestine yelled in the garage.”
Aunt.
That was what Poppy used to call her before my engagement.
I asked:
“What did she hear?”
Helena stopped me.
“We’re not questioning her again tonight.”
Correct.
But one phrase Poppy had already said was clear.
Mommy told Celestine:
You don’t get to threaten me in front of my child.
That suggested the garage clip had audio somewhere.
May you like
The video file didn’t.
Maybe another recording did.
