Suspicious activity. He was standing in his own driveway. I’m… changing my Wi-Fi password.
His tone carried a hint of confusion, but he kept his voice calm. He knew how these things could escalate. Navarro exchanged a quick glance with Carter before looking back at Darius.
Do you live here? Darius almost laughed. What kind of question was that? His car was in the driveway. His name was on the mailbox.
Yeah, he said, crossing his arms. I’ve lived here for three years. Before Navarro could respond, a voice cut through the air.
He’s lying. Darius turned, and there she was. Melanie Foster, standing on her porch, arms folded, watching everything like she was the neighborhood security guard.
He’s always outside doing… something, she continued. Messing with his phone, looking around like he’s watching people. Now he’s out here, standing in the same spot for ten minutes, just tapping away.
Darius couldn’t believe it. Was she serious? I was on my router settings, he said flatly. Because someone I don’t know has been using my Wi-Fi.
Melanie scoffed. Oh, sure. And I’m supposed to believe that? Navarro turned to her.
Ma’am. Do you have any evidence that Mr. Coleman has done something illegal? Melanie hesitated. Because, of course, she didn’t.
She just had a… bad feeling. I… I don’t know, she admitted. I just think you should check.
Navarro exhaled, his patience thinning. He turned back to Darius. Sir, would you mind if we take a quick look at your router settings, just to clear this up? Darius clenched his jaw.
He shouldn’t have to prove anything, but he also knew how these situations could spiral out of control. Fine, he muttered, unlocking his phone and pulling up the settings. Here, take a look.
Navarro leaned in, eyes scanning the list of connected devices. And that’s when his expression changed. Because there it was.
Crestwood I-01. Who owns that device? Navarro asked. Darius shook his head.
Not me. Officer Carter stepped in, eyebrows raised. So someone’s been using your Wi-Fi without permission.
Darius nodded. And I don’t think they were just stealing internet. Look at the connection logs.
It’s been running non-stop. Someone’s been watching. Navarro’s posture shifted.
This wasn’t just a petty neighbor dispute anymore. Melanie, still standing on her porch, suddenly looked uncomfortable. Wait.
What do you mean, watching? Darius turned to her, eyes cold. I mean someone has been spying. And they might be watching all of us.
But the real question was, who? Silence settled over the front yard. The weight of Darius’s words hung in the air. Melanie, who had been so sure she was the one in the right, suddenly looked uneasy.
Spying? That wasn’t what she expected to hear. Navarro straightened up. All right, he said.
Voice more serious now. Let’s get inside. I want to see exactly what we’re dealing with.
Darius didn’t argue. He led the officers into his house, his frustrations simmering just below the surface. He hadn’t done anything wrong.
Yet here he was, being treated like a suspect in his own home. Melanie hesitated before following. She wasn’t sure why, but something told her she needed to hear this.
Once inside, Darius placed his phone on the dining table and mirrored the router settings onto his laptop screen. The device list appeared. There it was again.
Crestwood Eye 01. Still connected. Still active.
Officer Carter leaned in, scanning the details. Can you see what kind of device this is? Darius clicked around, his fingers moving fast. I can’t tell exactly, but… He opened the activity logs and froze.