And what he saw frightened him.
Not because Graham was physically dangerous.
Because he could look at his own son and discuss him like a financial instrument.
Derek turned toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“We’re not finished.”
Derek stopped.
He looked back.
“Yes,” he said. “We are.”
He walked out.
Miles hurried after him.
“Derek, don’t do anything stupid.”
Derek turned around.
“What do you call what we did at the mall?”
Miles had no answer.
Derek stepped outside into the cold afternoon.
For the first time in years, he didn’t reach for his phone.
He didn’t want an audience.
He wanted to be alone.
Chapter 8: The Recording Nobody Was Supposed to Keep
Jonah Reed watched the complete video on his laptop for almost an hour before making a decision.
He had filmed the entire confrontation.
Not eleven seconds.
Not thirty seconds.
Everything.
The initial shove.
The first warning.
The punch.
The throw.
The second attack.
The foot sweep.
Even the moment afterward when Santa helped pick up the presents and comforted the little girl.
Jonah knew exactly what the video proved.
He also knew what releasing it would mean.
Brett had already warned him.
“Don’t mess with Miles. He’s got lawyers.”
Jonah didn’t care about the lawyers.
He cared about the fact that he had spent the entire weekend watching people accuse an innocent old man of attacking Derek.
And he had helped make it possible.
He hadn’t pushed Santa.
He hadn’t thrown a punch.
But he had stood there recording while his friend bullied a stranger.
At first, he had told himself it was harmless.
A stupid joke.
A prank.
Just another piece of content.
Then he remembered the little girl crying.
The way Santa kept looking toward her.
The way the old man warned Derek instead of striking back.
The way he released every hold as soon as Derek went down.
Jonah opened his messages.
Miles had sent instructions before the event.
Make sure the red chair stays in frame.
Get the presents falling.
Don’t miss Santa reacting.
Another message bothered him even more.
