Chapter 24 - THE CAMERA COMES DOWNFour years after incident, living-room security system was replaced.
Technician asked whether Richard wanted same camera location.
Richard looked up.
The corner.
For years, red light had become symbol.
Visitors sometimes glanced.
Ethan did too.
Richard surprised everyone.
“Remove that one.”
Ethan looked at him.
“You sure?”
“Yes.”
“Thought you loved evidence.”
“I love appropriate evidence.”
They installed cameras at entrances and public corridors.
Not every living room corner.
Privacy mattered too.
A camera saved Richard.
It also existed inside home because family had become over-surveilled.
Balance.
Before technician removed, Richard took one photograph.
Not sentimental.
Documentation of change.
Then camera came down.
Buttons?
Miriam had preserved them through litigation.
Case closed.
They returned in evidence bag.
Richard stared at four champagne-colored buttons.
Ethan asked:
“What do we do with them?”
“Trash.”
“Really?”
“What would you do?”
“Frame them?”
Richard stared.
Ethan laughed.
“Kidding.”
They threw away.
May you like
Objects did not need become relics.
The lesson remained without shrine.
