Porter straightened immediately.
“I am directing you to preserve evidence connected to possible elder abuse, financial exploitation, false reporting, and unlawful restraint,” I said. “If you refuse, your name will appear in every report that follows.”
His expression changed.
The irritation vanished.
He grabbed his radio and requested a patrol unit at the address.
I walked toward my father and placed one hand on his back.
“Come on, Dad. We are getting you out of here.”
He tried to stand.
His knees buckled.
I caught his arm before he fell.
The sleeve of his sweater slid toward his elbow.
Deep purple marks circled both wrists.
They were complete rings.
Not random bruises.
Not injuries from a short struggle.
Restraint marks.
My father saw me staring and quickly pulled the sleeve down.
That small movement told me everything.
He was ashamed of what had been done to him.
I abandoned the idea of taking him home.
Instead, I guided him into my government-issued SUV and drove directly to Riverside Medical Center.
The triage nurse took one look at him and placed him in a private trauma bay.
A physician named Dr. Hannah Price arrived within minutes.
She examined his heart, blood pressure, hydration levels, and neurological responses while I stood beside the bed trying not to let my hands shake.
