He turned the phone. A video file appeared. 32 minutes, time stamped Saturday night. Original resolution. Play it.
Jason hesitated. Play it. The diner noise faded beneath the tiny speaker. Tyler's voice came first. Laughing.
Mocking Ethan. The camera shifted. There was the spilled drink. Tyler stepping forward. Ethan apologizing.
Then Linda. That's enough. Jason froze the video. His eyes filled with disbelief. He was witnessing it in a crowded room.
Monica whispered, keep going. Tyler pushed Linda aside. Ethan stepped in. Tyler shoved him into the chair. Then Maya entered the frame.
Even through the phone, her voice was clear. That's enough. Jason's breathing became shallow. She turned. You going to do something about it?
The phone captured everything. Lighter reaching. Maya warning him. Let go. Tyler pulling harder.
Then the movement. Fast. Controlled. Two seconds. Tyler down.
Maya releasing him. Maya immediately kneeling beside Ethan. Then Tyler's voice. She attacked me. Jason stopped the video.
Nobody spoke. Jason's face. Monica looked at Jason. You have to give this to David. Jason nodded.
I know and Susan. I know and you need to tell them who called you. Jason's eyes dropped. I don't have a recording of the call. You have the number.
I blocked it. Blocked isn't deleted. Jason looked at her. Monica held his gaze. Being scared explains why you waited.
It doesn't decide what you do next. For the first time, Jason looked less frightened. Not brave yet. But moving toward it, he emailed the original file to David while they sat in the booth. Then he forwarded it to Susan.
Then after another long pause, he took screenshots of Tyler's messages. Across the diner, Maya's phone buzzed. David. She answered quietly. I've got it.