Mr. Gallagher didn't jump to conclusions just because of Mrs. Gallagher's tearful complaints. Believing only what he could see, he turned to his son and asked in a low voice, "What exactly is going on? What were you doing in the parking garage for no reason? And... and acting so..."
Howard Gallagher hadn't expected the cameras to have captured him furtively looking for the right moment to stage the accident in the parking garage.
According to his original plan, Melody Lynch was supposed to spot him as she drove around the corner, slam on the brakes in time, and just barely avoid hitting him. They would both be startled but ultimately unharmed.
Afterward, all he would have needed to do was act a little more understanding and reasonable, and he could have easily won her over. He might have even gotten her contact information, laying the groundwork for future interactions.
