Chapter 6: The Recording That Showed Who Entered the Kitchen
“Disconnect it!””
Daniel's voice echoed through the blue room.
The investigator rushed toward the computer.
A progress bar moved across the screen.
*DELETION IN PROGRESS: 68%.*
“Someone's accessing the system remotely,” the investigator said.
“They're trying to erase the backup files.””
Daniel looked toward the desk.
“Can you stop it?””
“I can disconnect the network, but if I do that without preserving the current activity, we may lose information about the connection.””
“Then preserve it.””
The investigator pulled a small forensic device from his equipment case.
Victoria stood near the door, crying silently.
Daniel turned toward her.
“Who has access to this room?””
“I don't know.””
“Who installed the security system?””
“My daughter.””
“Who knew about the remote backup?””
Victoria wiped her cheeks.
“I don't know.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“Mrs. Hayes, your daughter wrote that someone would enter this room after her death. She named you, Detective Harris, and Richard Palmer in her notebook.
We found an email suggesting a plan to frame Michael. And now someone is attempting to destroy the recordings.””
Victoria shook her head.
“I didn't kill Sarah.””
Daniel's voice became colder.
“Then help us find out who did.””
The investigator connected his device.
“Got it.””
The progress bar stopped.
A small window appeared.
*REMOTE SESSION TERMINATED.*
He exhaled.
“I've preserved the access logs. The deletion attempt was interrupted.””
Daniel leaned over his shoulder.
“Can you identify the remote user?””
“Not conclusively yet. But the connection originated through a network associated with the Hayes family investment company.””
Victoria closed her eyes.
Daniel stared at her.
“You said you didn't know who had access.””
“I didn't.””
“Your company did.””
Victoria shook her head.
“Sarah had been using the company network without my permission.””
Daniel glanced at the investigator.
“Preserve everything.””
The investigator nodded.
Then he opened the local recording directory.
Hundreds of files appeared.
Most were labeled by date and camera location.
The investigator selected the folder corresponding to the night Sarah died.
There were three video files.
One from the kitchen.
One from the front entrance.
And one from the hallway outside the basement.
Daniel watched the investigator create verified forensic copies.
“Can we view them?””
“Yes. But I want to confirm the timestamps and metadata first.””
They waited.
Outside the blue room, the house had become strangely quiet.
Victoria sat on a storage box, her hands covering her face.
Eleanor stood beside the door.
Daniel looked at her.
“Did Sarah ever tell you why she installed so many cameras?””
Eleanor nodded.
“She said she couldn't sleep. Someone kept moving things in her office. Once, she found the back door unlocked.””
“Did she suspect Victoria?””
Eleanor looked down.
“She suspected everyone.””
Daniel considered that.
“Did you ever see Detective Harris at the house?””
Eleanor hesitated.
“Yes.””
“When?””
“About two weeks before Sarah died.””
Daniel turned.
“What was he doing here?””
“He came with Victoria. They said they were discussing a neighborhood security issue.””
“Did Sarah meet with him?””
“No. She locked herself in the bedroom.””
Daniel looked at the notebook again.
Two weeks before her death, Sarah had already been frightened of the detective who would later lead the murder investigation.
The investigator finally spoke.
“Mr. Brooks, the footage is ready.””
Daniel moved toward the screen.
The first recording showed the kitchen.
The timestamp read 10:42 p.m.
Sarah entered the frame.
She wore a light blue sweater and dark trousers. Her hair was tied back loosely.
She placed a glass of water on the counter and opened a drawer.
Then she looked toward the camera.
For several seconds, she stood perfectly still.
Finally, she spoke.
The microphone captured her voice.
“If you're watching this, something happened.””
Daniel felt his throat tighten.
Sarah looked tired.
Terrified.
But determined.
“Michael, if this reaches you, I'm sorry. I should have told you everything sooner.””
Michael wasn't there to hear it.
But Daniel knew he would have to show him.
Sarah continued.
“Mother has been moving money. Richard is helping her. And James Harris has been making sure nobody asks the right questions.””
She took a breath.
“I don't know how far they've gone. I don't know who I can trust anymore.””
Then she glanced toward the kitchen entrance.
“I'm going to leave the documents in the blue room. If anything happens to me, don't believe the first story they tell you.””
The video ended.
Nobody spoke.
Daniel stared at the black screen.
“Show the next recording.””
The investigator opened the front entrance footage.
At 11:06 p.m., a dark sedan pulled into the driveway.
A man stepped out.
He wore a baseball cap and a dark jacket.
His face wasn't clearly visible.
He approached the front door.
Then used a key.
Daniel leaned closer.
“Can you enhance the image?””
“I can improve visibility, but I can't guarantee identification.””
The investigator adjusted the contrast.
The man's face remained partially obscured.
However, the time and vehicle details were clear.
Daniel checked the vehicle.
It belonged to the Hayes family investment company.
He turned toward Victoria.
“Who drove this car?””
Victoria didn't answer.
Eleanor spoke instead.
“Richard Palmer used it sometimes.””
Daniel looked at her.
“Are you sure?””
“I saw him driving it when he came to meet Victoria.””
Victoria suddenly lifted her head.
“Richard didn't have permission to use that car.””
Daniel looked back at the screen.
The man entered the house at 11:08 p.m.
Then the investigator opened the kitchen recording from the same time.
At 11:14 p.m., the kitchen door moved.
A figure entered.
The person wore gloves.
They walked directly toward the counter.
They picked up Sarah's glass.
Then they opened the drawer and removed something small.
Daniel leaned closer.
“What is that?””
The investigator paused the footage.
The figure held a small rectangular object.
A medication bottle.
Daniel's stomach tightened.
The investigator zoomed in.
The label was partially visible.
He checked the original police evidence inventory.
“Mr. Brooks?””
“What?””
“The medication bottle recovered at the scene was listed as belonging to Sarah.””
Daniel stared at the screen.
“Is this the same bottle?””
“The shape and label placement appear consistent. We need the original physical evidence to confirm.””
Daniel looked toward Victoria.
“Did you know someone entered the kitchen that night?””
She began shaking her head.
“I wasn't there.””
“Who had a key?””
“Family members. Staff. Richard.””
“Detective Harris?””
Victoria hesitated.
“I don't know.””
Daniel turned back to the screen.
The figure placed the bottle on the counter.
Then looked directly toward the camera.
For one brief second, the person's face became visible.
The investigator froze the image.
Daniel stared.
It wasn't Richard.
It wasn't Detective Harris.
It wasn't Victoria.
It was a woman.
A woman wearing a dark scarf and a pair of glasses.
Eleanor stepped closer.
“Oh, my God.””
Daniel turned.
“Do you recognize her?””
Eleanor's face had gone white.
“Yes.””
“Who is she?””
Eleanor swallowed.
“It's Patricia.””
“Who is Patricia?””
“Patricia Hayes. Victoria's younger sister.””
Victoria stood abruptly.
“That's impossible!””
Eleanor shook her head.
“I worked in that house for nine years. I know what she looks like.””
Daniel looked back at the frozen image.
Victoria's younger sister had been listed as living in another state.
She had also been one of the beneficiaries of Sarah's inheritance if Sarah died before changing her estate documents.
Daniel checked the records.
Patricia Hayes had received a payment of $250,000 from the family investment company two days after Sarah's death.
He turned toward Victoria.
“Why did your sister receive a quarter of a million dollars?””
Victoria's knees weakened.
She sat down.
“I don't know.””
“Was she in the house that night?””
“I don't know!””
Eleanor spoke quietly.
“You know, Victoria.””
Victoria looked at her.
For a moment, the two women stared at each other.
Then Victoria covered her face.
“She said she was only going to scare Sarah.””
Daniel's expression hardened.
“What?””
Victoria's voice was barely audible.
“Patricia said Sarah would sign the documents if someone made her understand how serious things were.””
Daniel stepped closer.
“What happened that night?””
Victoria began crying.
“I was supposed to meet them afterward. Patricia said she had everything under control.””
“Did you know Sarah was going to die?””
“No.””
“Did you know Patricia entered the house?””
Victoria shook her head.
“I didn't know she had gone inside.””
Daniel looked toward the investigator.
“Preserve that recording immediately.””
The investigator nodded.
But Daniel wasn't finished.
“Mrs. Hayes, where is Patricia now?””
Victoria stared at the floor.
“I haven't spoken to her in months.””
“Where does she live?””
“Savannah.””
“Does she still have access to the family company?””
Victoria hesitated.
“She used to.””
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“I need the police notified.””
Victoria suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
“Please.””
Daniel looked down at her hand.
“Let go.””
“Please don't tell them yet.””
He stepped back.
“Why?””
Victoria's eyes were filled with terror.
“Because Patricia wasn't the one who planned everything.””
Daniel stared at her.
“Then who did?””
Victoria looked toward the computer.
The screen had gone dark.
For several seconds, she couldn't speak.
Then she whispered:
“James Harris.””
Daniel felt a chill move down his spine.
Victoria continued.
“He told us what to say. He told us which evidence would matter. He said Michael would be convicted before anyone had a chance to question the financial records.””
“Why would a detective help frame an innocent man?””
Victoria began sobbing harder.
“Because Sarah had discovered something about him.””
“What?””
Victoria looked directly at Daniel.
“He wasn't just helping us steal the inheritance.””
She swallowed.
“He had been using the same accounts to hide money from other criminal investigations.””
Daniel stared at her.
The murder case was suddenly much larger than anyone had imagined.
Then his phone rang.
It was Rebecca Mills.
He answered.
“Daniel?””
“I'm at the Carter house. We recovered security footage.””
“Good. You need to get out of there immediately.””
Daniel frowned.
“Why?””
“Detective Harris just arrived at the courthouse with a warrant for your arrest.””
Daniel froze.
“For what?””
Rebecca lowered her voice.
“Tampering with evidence and unauthorized access to a protected computer system.””
Daniel looked at the investigator.
Then at the blue room.
Someone had anticipated his discovery.
Rebecca continued.
“And there's something else.””
“What?””
“Patricia Hayes has been found.””
Daniel gripped the phone.
“Where?””
“At her apartment in Savannah.””
“Is she alive?””
Rebecca paused.
“No.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
“How did she die?””
“The police say apparent suicide.””
A cold silence settled over the room.
Then Rebecca delivered the final piece of information.
“Daniel, they found a handwritten note beside her body.””
“What did it say?””
Rebecca's voice dropped to a whisper.
“It said Michael Carter killed Sarah, and Patricia was sorry she helped him.””
Daniel looked at the frozen image of Patricia on the computer screen.
Then he understood.
May you like
Someone was still trying to make Michael look guilty.
And this time, they were willing to kill another person to keep the truth buried.
