Chapter 3: The Camera
My father arrived with his headlights still on.
The front door opened so hard it struck the wall.
“Where is Jordan?””
His voice carried through the entire house.
I stepped into the hallway.
“Dad.””
He crossed the room and grabbed my shoulders.
“Are you okay?””
I nodded.
He looked at the cracked phone in my hand.
Then at the duffel bag on the floor.
Then at Claire.
“What happened?””
Claire folded her arms.
“I already told you.””
“No,” my father said.
“You told me your version.””
He looked toward the stairs.
“Where's Maya?””
“In her room,” I said.
“Why?””
“She found security footage.””
My father's face hardened.
“Show me.””
Claire shook her head.
“Marcus, this is getting out of control.””
He turned to her.
“You accused my son of trying to assault your daughter.””
“I did.””
“You threatened to call the police.””
“Yes.””
“You broke his phone.””
“I didn't—”
“I saw it.””
Claire stopped.
My father pointed toward the stairs.
“And now my daughter says she lied?””
Claire looked away.
My father took one step closer.
“I want to know why.””
Claire's eyes flashed.
“Because Jordan has been getting too close to her.””
I felt sick.
“That's not true.””
“I've seen the way he looks at her.””
My father stared at her.
“You've known these kids for years.””
“And I've seen enough.””
“No,” he said.
“You haven't.””
Claire scoffed.
“You always defend him.””
“Because you haven't shown me a single fact.””
“I don't need facts when my daughter tells me she's afraid.””
Maya's voice came from upstairs.
“I wasn't afraid of Jordan.””
Everyone looked up.
Maya stood at the top of the staircase holding a small black hard drive.
She walked downstairs slowly.
My father moved toward her.
“Maya.””
She handed him the drive.
“This is from the security system.””
Claire's expression changed.
“Give me that.””
Maya pulled it against her chest.
“No.””
“It's mine.””
“Dad paid for it.””
“It's installed in my house.””
My father took the drive from Maya.
“Enough.””
He looked at me.
“Where's the computer?””
I pointed toward the study.
We went inside.
The room smelled like old coffee and printer paper.
My father connected the hard drive to his laptop.
Maya stood behind him.
Claire remained in the doorway.
I stayed near the wall.
My father clicked through the folders.
“What date?””
“Tuesday,” Maya said.
“What time?””
“About eleven-thirty.””
He found the file.
The screen flickered.
Black-and-white footage appeared.
The backyard.
The patio.
The side gate.
My chest tightened.
Tuesday night.
The night Maya claimed I'd attacked her.
My father looked at me.
“Jordan, where were you?””
“At work.””
“What time did you get home?””
“After midnight.””
Maya nodded.
“I know.””
The footage continued.
At 11:34 p.m., the back door opened.
Maya stepped outside.
She was alone.
She sat on the patio.
Then she looked toward the side gate.
My father leaned closer to the screen.
At 11:37, another figure appeared.
I recognized him immediately.
“Uncle Ryan.””
Claire's face went pale.
Ryan walked into the backyard.
Maya stood.
They talked.
There was no audio.
But their body language was unmistakable.
Maya pointed toward the house.
Ryan shook his head.
Then he grabbed her arm.
My father slammed his hand on the desk.
“What the hell?””
Claire whispered, “No.””
On screen, Maya pulled away.
Ryan stepped closer.
Then he reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a phone.
Maya looked at it.
She suddenly started crying.
Ryan pointed toward the house again.
Then he walked away.
Maya remained outside alone.
I looked at Claire.
“That's what happened.””
She shook her head.
“I don't know what that is.””
“You said I attacked her.””
“I believed my daughter.””
“You didn't even ask me.””
“I was protecting her!””
“No,” Maya said quietly.
Everyone turned.
She was crying again.
“You were protecting him.””
Claire's face crumpled.
“Maya…”
“He threatened me.””
My father stood.
“Who?””
“Uncle Ryan.””
“What did he threaten you with?””
Maya looked at me.
Then she looked at the floor.
“He said if I told Dad about the money, he'd make it look like Jordan hurt me.””
My father went completely still.
I felt cold all over.
“That's why you lied?””
Maya nodded.
“I thought if I accused you, he'd stop.””
I stared at her.
“You thought destroying my life would make him stop?””
“I know.””
Her voice broke.
“I know what I did.””
“You could have sent me to jail.””
“I know.””
“You could have ruined everything.””
“I know!””
She covered her face.
“I was scared!””
The room fell silent.
My father walked to her.
He didn't hug her immediately.
He simply stood there.
“Why didn't you come to me?””
Maya lowered her hands.
“Because Ryan showed me something.””
“What?””
“A recording.””
My father frowned.
“Of what?””
“Mom talking to him.””
Claire closed her eyes.
Maya continued.
“She told him where the money was.””
My father looked at Claire.
“What money?””
Claire said nothing.
Maya whispered,
“The twenty-seven thousand wasn't stolen from your business account.””
My father's face changed.
“Then where?””
Maya looked directly at her mother.
“Your life insurance money.””
I stared at Claire.
My father didn't move.
“Claire,” he said slowly, “what did you do with my daughter's college fund?””
Claire's lips parted.
No sound came out.
Then headlights swept across the study window.
A car stopped in the driveway.
Maya looked toward the window.
Her face drained of color.
“That's Ryan.””
My father turned toward the front door.
The doorbell rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then someone knocked.
Hard.
Three times.
Ryan's voice came through the house.
“Marcus?””
My father walked toward the door.
Maya grabbed his arm.
“Dad, don't open it.””
He looked at her.
“Why?””
Maya's eyes widened.
“Because he doesn't know I told you.””
The knocking stopped.
Silence.
Then Ryan said something that made all of us freeze.
“Marcus, if Maya told you about the recording…”
May you like
He paused.
“…you need to hear the rest before you blame the wrong person.””
