She surveyed the birthday celebration with theatrical disgust. "This whole setup reeks of welfare fraud. Who's paying for all this food? Hardworking taxpayers, I bet."
Mrs. Washington, 73 years old and a retired school teacher, stood up slowly. "Officer, this is just a child's birthday party. We have every right to be here."
Mitchell's eyes locked onto the elderly woman. "Did I ask you to speak, Grandma? Sit your welfare ass back down before you get yourself in trouble."
James felt his jaw clench, but he forced himself to remain motionless near the gift table.
"Looks like a health code violation to me, Lieutenant," Officer Barnes sneered, moving toward the food tables. "All this uncovered food sitting out in the heat."
"You're absolutely right, Barnes," Mitchell smirked. "Better dispose of it properly."
Barnes swept his arm across the main table, sending the potato salad, fried chicken, and homemade sides crashing to the ground. Children started crying. Maya's beautiful Spider-Man cake hit the pavement with a wet splat.
"Oops," Barnes said with a cruel grin.
Cruz joined in the destruction, flipping over the gift table. Wrapped presents exploded across the grass, their colorful paper tearing as toys spilled out. Marcus's new soccer ball rolled toward the parking lot, followed by carefully chosen art supplies and books. The beautiful birthday setup became a wasteland of destruction in seconds.