Arnie hit the spacebar, pausing the playback on a huge spike in the green waveform.

Detective Miller leaned over the soundboard, his jaw set tight.

“Play that line one more time,” Miller said softly.

“The exact words right before the impact.”

Arnie dragged the slider back three seconds and pressed play.

Brenda’s sharp command filled the small booth again, clear and loud: “Chloe, stop letting that annoying brat disrespect you, put him in his place right now!”

We stepped out into the fluorescent light of the main precinct hallway.