Chapter 2 - THE MISSING BEGINNING
Officer Lena Ortiz interviewed each child separately.
Rebecca remained in a side room with a female officer and a social worker. Samuel sat with another officer near the coatroom. Jacob stayed with Leah Morgan, Thomas’s operations manager and the children’s godmother, after police confirmed Thomas trusted her.
Thomas was questioned beside a patrol car.
Robert had frosting in his hair and a red mark forming across his chest. Paramedics recommended evaluation because of his age. Helen insisted he be transported, speaking loudly enough for every guest to hear.
“My son could have killed him.”
Thomas stared through the glass doors at Rebecca.
“He made my children serve the party.”
“You kicked him after you had already taken the tray away,” Officer Ortiz said. “That distinction matters.”
Thomas knew it did.
The children had no longer been under immediate physical attack when he struck Robert. Rage explained his action. It did not automatically justify it.
“May I see the videos?”
“We’re collecting them.”
The first three recordings officers received began with Thomas lunging.
One showed Robert falling into the cake.
Another captured Thomas shouting about paying for the party.
None showed the children being assigned work, Robert’s insult, or Helen’s response.
“They cut the beginning,” Thomas said.
Ortiz did not disagree.
“We need original files, not forwarded clips.”
Helen emerged from the hall carrying her handbag.
The blue payment folder was gone.
Thomas checked the floor near the cake table.
“Where is my folder?”
Helen looked surprised.
“What folder?”
“The catering contract and payment authorization.”
“You mean the papers proving you offered to help with your father’s birthday?”
“I didn’t offer to help. I paid for it.”
Helen’s eyes shifted toward the officers.
“Thomas has always exaggerated his contributions.”
Leah stepped outside.
“The initial deposit came from Reed Event Logistics. I processed it.”
“How much?” Ortiz asked.
“Twelve thousand dollars. The final balance is twenty-two thousand eight hundred.”
Thomas’s jaw tightened.
Thirty-four thousand eight hundred dollars for a birthday party his parents used to humiliate his children.
Leah looked at him.
“The caterer says someone changed the client name on the event file this morning.”
“To whose name?”
“Robert Reed.”
Helen folded her arms.
“The party was hosted by the family.”
“Paid for by my company.”
“Your company uses the Reed name.”
“That doesn’t make it yours.”
Robert’s ambulance pulled away.
A second officer approached Thomas.
“Mr. Reed, based on the available video and witness statements, we have probable cause to take you in for questioning on the assault.”
Rebecca ran from the side room.
“Dad!”
Thomas crouched before the officer could stop her.
“Leah is taking you home.”
“They lied.”
“I know.”
“They told the police we wanted to work.”
Thomas held her shoulders.
“Did you tell Officer Ortiz what happened?”
“Yes.”
“Then you did your job.”
Handcuffs clicked behind his back.
Rebecca flinched.
Thomas did not tell her everything would be fine. He could not promise that.
“Stay with Leah. Keep Samuel and Jacob close.”
As officers placed him in the cruiser, Helen stood beneath the entrance lights and watched.
She did not look shocked by his arrest.
She looked relieved.
Thomas’s attorney, Miriam Cole, met him at the county station less than an hour later.
She had represented Reed Event Logistics in contract disputes, but never Thomas personally in a criminal matter.
“The hospital reports no fracture,” she said. “Robert has bruising and a possible chest-wall strain. That helps, but the video is ugly.”
“The videos are edited.”
“We prove that later. Right now, you do not call your parents, you do not post anything, and you do not contact the cousins who filmed.”
Thomas signed release conditions shortly after midnight. He was ordered to avoid Robert pending the first hearing.
Miriam handed him a document before they left.
“What is this?”
“It was filed at nine twelve this morning.”
The petition bore Robert and Helen Reed’s names.
They were seeking temporary guardianship of Rebecca, Samuel, and Jacob.
The filing described Thomas as financially unstable, emotionally volatile, and increasingly violent.
Attached was a prepared statement claiming the children had expressed fear of their father.
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The petition had been filed almost ten hours before Thomas kicked Robert.
His parents had gone to court before they ever put aprons on his children.
