Chapter 9
223words
For justice's sake, I should have grabbed that phone, stopped Sarah from pressing the button that would unleash those monsters on Jack.
But sometimes I forget that beneath the badge, I'm just a man.
In that critical window—five seconds, maybe less—I didn't see Jack Thompson trapped in that cage.
I saw Amy—violated, murdered, dismembered.
I saw her mother's face watching that video, Mei Lin doubled over her kitchen counter, vomiting from soul-deep anguish.
These images paralyzed me just long enough. By the time I snapped back to reality, Sarah had already pressed the button. We watched in horror as shadowy figures descended on Jack like wolves on wounded prey. His screams and pleas filled the car until Sarah collapsed beside me. We could only call an ambulance and watch them carry her away.
Through it all, Mei Lin watched me with that unreadable gaze. She'd accomplished exactly what she'd set out to do. The mighty Thompson empire, demolished by a humble shopkeeper.
Destroyed by another mother.
Whenever this case haunts me—and it often does—I tell myself: man's law demanded I act, but those five seconds of hesitation might have been divine justice at work.
It's the only way I can live with myself.
