Chapter 2 — Brenda Grabs the Order Tablet — Then Rewinds the Timestamped Security Feed
Todd lunged forward with a sharp gasp.
He reached out to snatch the device back from Brenda’s grip.
You are not allowed to look at those logs, Todd demanded, his face flushing a mottled red.
Customers do not have clearance for internal archival video.
Brenda held the tablet just out of his reach, pressing her elbow firmly against the laminate table.
If my son is being accused of damaging restaurant property, I have every right to see the proof.
Todd snatched his hand back, casting a nervous glance toward the empty service counter.
Management sets those viewing restrictions for security reasons.
Brenda ignored his protests entirely.
Her thumb tapped through the drop-down menu until she located the cloud archival app icon.
A login prompt blinked on the screen.
Todd watched her movements with narrowed eyes, his breathing noticeably shallow.
You will not find anything useful on there anyway, he muttered, shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
Brenda ignored the comment.
She entered the four-digit staff bypass code that Marcus, the diner manager, had once shown her during a community business mixer.
The screen flashed green.
A grid of four live video feeds populated the display in a split-second.
Camera One showed the front register.
Camera Two displayed the kitchen swinging doors.
Camera Three covered the main aisle near the pastry display.
Camera Four pointed downward at a sharp angle.
It captured their exact red vinyl booth in high-definition monochrome detail.
The table looked completely undisturbed in the live view, save for the dark puddle reflecting the overhead neon lights.
Todd froze in place.
His eyes glued themselves to the glowing glass in Brenda’s hand.
Brenda reached out with her index finger and touched the timeline scrubber at the bottom of the Camera Four display.
She dragged the digital progress bar backward across the blue tracking line.
The timestamp overlay in the corner flipped rapidly through the digits.
Ten minutes prior, the screen showed the table completely dry and Caleb sitting quietly with his crayons.