Chapter 10 - Aaron’s Badge
Aaron Cole’s criminal case resolved before Mason’s.
Evidence against him:
Texts.
Body camera.
Call.
Attempt to direct initial classification.
Private contact with Sentinel technician after removal.
One act mattered most.
He had instructed a patrol officer to omit the black ring detail from preliminary report because:
“Unverified military jewelry will create noise.”
Officer Reed saved her own supplemental report.
That instruction was not mere family panic.
It was deliberate suppression.
Aaron eventually pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and official misconduct.
The prosecutor dropped a more serious evidence tampering count because the ring evidence itself was never destroyed and Reed preserved.
Sentence:
Eleven months incarceration, suspended in part? Let's say six months local jail, eighteen months supervised probation, permanent loss of law enforcement certification? Could be board process. We can say he resigned/was decertified after administrative process. Restitution minimal.
Given breach of trust, judge imposed eight months in local jail plus two years probation, public office prohibition during probation, and certification revoked through separate process.
No years of prison for coverup alone.
Then Aaron spoke.
“I did not know Mason was going to Ethan’s house.”
I believed evidence.
Then:
“When he called and told me Violet had been hurt, I should have arrested my brother.”
Yes.
“Instead I told myself I could buy him time to get attorney.”
Then:
“I walked into that house and saw a child injured.”
His voice broke.
“And I still tried to choose language that would protect Mason.”
Then Violet’s victim statement, read by advocate.
“You did not hit me.”
Then:
“But when my father told you nothing was missing, you knew the word robbery made what happened easier for your brother.”
Then:
“I heard you argue with my dad while I was going to hospital.”
She had partial memory.
Then:
“You had badge. I needed you to be the person who did not care whose brother he was.”
Aaron cried.
Sentence.
Then Detective Cole no longer detective.
I expected satisfaction.
None.
Because I remembered him at county fundraiser laughing with Mason.
Two brothers.
Not monsters in photograph.
Then Officer Reed promoted later? Not instantly. She received commendation for integrity maybe. We can avoid hero reward. Internal review noted her proper reporting. She returned patrol.
She came once to return Violet’s new? Actually backpack evidence released after lab.
The old backpack.
Yellow? Old school backpack before replacement. She brought in evidence bag.
Violet looked.
“Can I throw?”
“Yes.”
Police no longer needed.
We cut? no. She put in trash.
Then spare key.
Recovered from backpack.
Not used in crime because Violet let Mason in.
Still.
I destroyed.
Then Violet asked:
“Why did Dad hide it weird?”
I said:
“Because thirteen year old you lost two keys.”
She laughed.
Human.
Then Mason's defense filed motion to exclude old Kestrel evidence as prejudicial.
Some admitted to motive, not prove character.
Good.
Then they sought to attack Violet’s credibility due concussion.
Medical expert said memory after trauma can be fragmented.
Defense had right.
Prosecutor planned rely on recording, texts, Gavin, footage.
Violet not sole.
I was grateful.
Then Mason sent no more apologies after she refused.
His lawyer offered plea:
Mason would plead to assault, unlawful entry, computer crime, obstruction, and federal data conspiracy if prosecution capped total around twelve years.
State/federal prosecutors considered.
Violet asked:
“Would I have to testify?”
Maybe not.
She said:
“I don’t care about years. I want him to admit.”
That mattered.
Prosecutors required factual allocution.
Mason refused to admit intentional attack, claiming he struck while defending himself.
No plea.
Trial.
Then I asked Violet:
“If he takes deal later, are you okay?”
“Yes.”
“You just said…”
“I want him admit. But I don't control court.”
Mature.
Then:
“Do you want him in prison forever?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“He didn't kill me.”
True.
Punishment proportion.
Then:
“But he should not work security again.”
Likely.
Sentinel licenses already under review.
Mason suspended.
Company under court-appointed compliance monitor? Could happen due contracts. Board removed Mason as CEO.
Sentinel Ridge did not collapse.
Over 200 employees.
Independent board hired new CEO.
Government contracts paused then some restored after controls.
Workers kept jobs.
No revenge collapse.
Mason’s ownership stake frozen? Not confiscated. He owned 46%. Could still own economic interest but voting rights suspended under bylaws after felony? Board had options. Later sale ordered/negotiated.
Good.
Then Violet saw news:
SENTINEL FOUNDER ACCUSED OF ATTACKING TEEN.
Her face online blurred by responsible outlets, not all social.
She deleted apps.
At school, kids knew.
She wanted normal.
I drove.
She said:
“Stop waiting in parking lot.”
“I’m picking you up.”
“You arrive forty minutes early.”
“Traffic.”
“Liar.”
May you like
I reduced to ten.
That was harder than combat.
