Chapter 4 - THE FIRST WARNING
Martha did not immediately call her son.
Before the assault, she gave Daniel three chances to stop.
The first came when he told her to leave.
She remained beside the counter.
“Please contact your compliance officer.”
Daniel smiled coldly.
“I am the branch manager.”
“That is not what I asked.”
Jessica glanced at him.
Daniel stepped closer.
“You are disrupting business.”
“I am attempting to complete business.”
The second warning came when he reached for the check.
Martha placed two fingers over it.
“Do not remove my property unless you intend to process it.”
Daniel pulled the paper from beneath her hand.
“You don’t dictate procedure here.”
He inspected the watermark incorrectly, then announced loudly:
“This may be fraudulent.”
Customers turned.
Martha’s face tightened.
“Call the issuing institution.”
“We do not waste resources validating every story.”
The third warning came when Daniel ordered Marcus to escort her outside.
Marcus approached slowly.
Martha looked at his name badge.
“Officer Reed, have I threatened anyone?”
“No, ma’am.”
“Have I refused identification?”
“No.”
Daniel snapped, “She is trespassing.”
Martha turned toward him.
“A customer does not become a trespasser because a manager dislikes her coat.”
The senior female employee in burgundy lowered her eyes.
She knew Martha was right.
Daniel also knew.
But he had reached the point where admitting error felt more humiliating than escalating it.
He grabbed Martha’s upper arm.
She pulled away.
“Do not touch me.”
Daniel’s face flushed.
Several phones rose among the customers.
He saw them.
Instead of stopping, he decided he needed to end the confrontation quickly.
He drove his foot into her lower torso.
The kick was not accidental.
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It was not a stumble.
It was a decision.
