Chapter 3 — Camera Four Angle C-4 Starts Playing — Then Shows Todd Rushing Past with a Tray
Brenda dragged the blue time-marker backward by three more minutes.
The digital clock in the corner of the tablet screen clicked past the current hour.
12:14 PM.
The monochrome pixels sharpened instantly.
Camera Four Angle C-4 began playing the recorded file at standard speed.
The overhead lens provided a crisp, wide view of the entire central dining row.
Caleb could be seen sitting quietly in the corner of the booth.
He was drawing circles on a paper place mat with a yellow crayon.
The empty wooden table surface was completely clear.
A few seconds later, the side door of the kitchen swung inward.
Todd appeared in the frame.
He was moving at a brisk pace down the narrow central walkway.
The waiter was balancing a large oval service tray loaded with heavy ceramic plates and tall glasses.
The footage displayed crisp high-definition framing with exact timestamps.
Todd was seen navigating the aisle overloaded with heavy plates.
His shoulders were hunched forward under the weight of the tray.
His eyes were locked straight ahead toward another table near the front windows.
The video timestamp matched the exact minute Todd walked away from the service counter.
Brenda watched the progress bar inch closer to the moment of the spill.
Todd drew nearer to their booth.
The heavy tray wobbled slightly as he adjusted his grip.
Todd’s elbow visibly shaped a wide arc.
His right arm swung outward toward the edge of Caleb’s booth.