Chapter 3: The Photograph That Shouldn't Exist
The photograph was placed on the evidence table at 4:17 p.m.
It showed Michael standing outside his house at 10:42 p.m. on the night Sarah died.
He wore a gray jacket.
His face was turned toward the camera.
And behind him, through the open front door, was Sarah.
Alive.
Daniel stared at it.
"Where did you find this?""
The security officer pointed toward the suitcase recovered from Victoria's car.
"Inside a brown folder. There were twelve copies.""
"Who had access to the suitcase?""
"Mrs. Victoria. Nobody else.""
Daniel examined the photograph through its protective sleeve.
The date printed in the corner was November 14.
The night of Sarah's death.
Michael stared at the image from his seat.
"That's not possible.""
Daniel looked at him.
"Is it you?""
"Yes.""
"Then explain it.""
Michael swallowed.
"That picture was taken two weeks before Sarah died.""
Daniel looked down at the printed date.
"Are you sure?""
"Absolutely. I remember because Sarah was wearing that blue sweater. She had just come home from visiting her sister.""
Daniel studied the image.
"Why would someone change the date?""
Michael shook his head.
"To make it look like I was there the night she died.""
The prosecutor, who had been standing near the door, crossed his arms.
"Or perhaps you're lying.""
Michael turned toward him.
"I was working that night!""
"Your mother-in-law testified otherwise.""
"Then check the photograph!""
Collins lifted the evidence sleeve.
"We will.""
Daniel pointed to the suitcase.
"But first, I'd like the court to know why Mrs. Victoria was attempting to leave with evidence that may be directly connected to this case.""
Collins said nothing.
For once, he didn't have an immediate answer.
Judge Harrison ordered the photograph preserved and requested a hearing the following morning.
Victoria was brought back into the courthouse under security escort.
Her makeup was smudged.
Her hair had come loose.
But she still held her chin high.
"This is harassment," she announced as she entered.
Judge Harrison looked at her.
"Mrs. Victoria, you were attempting to leave with material that may be relevant to a murder trial.""
"I was taking my personal belongings home.""
"Then why did you scream when the child produced the envelope?""
Victoria's eyes moved toward Emily.
"Because that little girl has been manipulated!""
Emily shrank behind Michael.
Michael immediately placed an arm around her.
"Don't you dare speak to her like that.""
Victoria pointed at him.
"You see? That's exactly what he does. He turns everyone against me.""
Daniel stood.
"Mrs. Victoria, did you remove a yellow teddy bear from Emily's possession after Sarah's death?""
Victoria hesitated.
"I don't remember.""
"Did you keep it?""
"No.""
"Did you destroy it?""
Victoria's lips tightened.
"I said I don't remember.""
Daniel placed a photograph of the teddy bear on the table.
"Is this the bear?""
Victoria glanced at it.
Then looked away.
"Yes.""
"Where is it?""
"I gave it away.""
"To whom?""
"I don't know.""
Daniel leaned forward.
"You took a sentimental possession from a grieving seven-year-old child, and you cannot remember what you did with it?""
Victoria's voice sharpened.
"It was a reminder of her dead mother! I was trying to help her move on!""
Emily suddenly spoke.
"Grandma lied.""
Everyone turned.
Victoria glared at her.
"Emily, be quiet.""
Emily clutched Michael's sleeve.
"Mommy said never let Grandma take the bear.""
Victoria stepped forward.
"Your mother was sick, sweetheart. She didn't understand what was happening.""
Emily's lower lip trembled.
"Mommy wasn't sick.""
"She was confused.""
"She told me you were taking her money.""
The room fell silent.
Victoria went rigid.
Daniel noticed immediately.
"What money, Emily?""
Emily looked at him.
"Mommy said Grandma took money from her special account. She said it was supposed to be mine.""
Victoria laughed nervously.
"This is absurd.""
Daniel didn't look away from her.
"Did you have access to Sarah's financial accounts?""
Victoria's answer came too quickly.
"No.""
Michael stared at her.
"You're lying.""
Victoria turned toward him.
"Watch your mouth.""
"You had her banking password. She told me you were helping with her investments.""
"That was years ago.""
"Then why did Sarah ask me to change the passwords?""
Victoria's expression changed.
Daniel slowly opened the folder.
"Michael, did your wife ever mention a company called Westbridge Holdings?""
Michael shook his head.
"No.""
Daniel turned toward Victoria.
"Does that name mean anything to you?""
She said nothing.
The silence lasted too long.
Daniel continued.
"According to the documents in the envelope, Sarah discovered that approximately $2.4 million had been transferred from an account established for Emily's future education and inheritance.""
Michael stared.
"Two point four million?""
Daniel nodded.
"Over eighteen months.""
Victoria shook her head.
"Those are fabricated documents.""
"Then you won't object to having them examined.""
"I absolutely object!""
Daniel raised an eyebrow.
"On what grounds?""
Victoria looked toward the judge.
"Your Honor, these documents have no connection to the murder charge.""
"That is not for you to decide," Judge Harrison replied.
Michael leaned toward Daniel.
"Where did Sarah get that money?""
Daniel looked at him.
"From the sale of her father's pharmaceutical company shares, according to the records.""
Michael felt his stomach turn.
Sarah's father had died when Emily was three.
He had left most of his estate to his only granddaughter.
Sarah had created a trust so Emily would have money for college, a home, and whatever future she wanted.
Victoria had offered to help manage the paperwork.
Michael remembered Sarah saying it would be easier if her mother handled the administrative work.
He remembered signing a few documents without reading every page.
He remembered trusting her.
"She stole from her own granddaughter," Michael whispered.
Victoria's face twisted.
"That money was never yours to begin with!""
Michael stared at her.
"It's Emily's.""
"Sarah was irresponsible! Someone had to manage things!""
Daniel placed another document on the table.
"Mrs. Victoria, did you authorize transfers to Westbridge Holdings?""
Victoria looked at the paper.
Then at the judge.
"I want my attorney.""
Daniel nodded.
"Of course.""
But Judge Harrison wasn't finished.
"Before you leave, Mrs. Victoria, I have one more question. Why does this document show that Westbridge Holdings transferred money to an account registered under your name?""
Victoria's mouth opened.
No sound came out.
The prosecutor slowly lowered his pen.
Michael looked at the woman who had spent eleven months trying to send him to prison.
For the first time, he saw fear in her eyes.
Not anger.
Not grief.
Fear.
And suddenly, the pieces began falling into place.
Sarah had discovered the missing money.
She had confronted someone.
She had written a letter warning Daniel.
And then she had died.
Daniel leaned toward Michael.
"We need that teddy bear.""
Michael nodded.
"Find it.""
Emily tugged at his sleeve.
"Daddy?""
"Yes, princess?""
"Mommy said something else about the bear.""
Daniel immediately crouched.
"What did she say?""
Emily glanced at Victoria.
Then she whispered:
"She said the little heart wasn't just decoration.""
Michael's breath caught.
"What was it, sweetheart?""
Emily looked at Daniel.
"Mommy said if Grandma ever took the bear, the police would find the other thing inside it.""
Daniel slowly stood.
"What other thing?""
Emily reached into her backpack and pulled out a folded piece of paper.
It was a drawing.
A yellow teddy bear.
A red heart.
And underneath it, in Sarah's handwriting, were five words:
Look behind the second heart.
Daniel stared at the drawing.
Then he looked at Victoria.
She had stopped breathing normally.
"Mrs. Victoria," he said quietly, "I think we need to find that bear.""
Victoria suddenly lunged toward the drawing.
"Give me that!""
A court officer caught her arm.
"Ma'am! Step back!""
Her voice broke.
"You don't understand! If you find what's inside that bear, everything will be destroyed!""
Daniel looked at her.
"Whose everything?""
Victoria began crying.
But she wasn't looking at Michael.
She was looking at Emily.
And then she said something that made the little girl hide her face against her father's chest.
"Your mother should never have made that recording.""
Michael went cold.
"What recording?""
Victoria covered her mouth.
Daniel slowly turned toward her.
"Mrs. Victoria, what recording are you talking about?""
She didn't answer.
But Emily did.
In a voice so small that everyone had to lean forward to hear it, she whispered:
"Mommy said the bear could tell everyone who was in the house when she died.""
Michael tightened his arms around his daughter.
Daniel looked toward the judge.
"Your Honor, I request an immediate order to secure the teddy bear and any electronic devices belonging to Mrs. Victoria.""
Judge Harrison nodded.
"Granted.""
Victoria began shaking her head.
"No. No, you can't.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Why not?""
She stared at him with tears running down her face.
"Because the voice on that recording...""
Her eyes moved toward Michael.
May you like
"...isn't the voice you're expecting.""
*And when the court finally discovered where the teddy bear had been hidden, the person who had the most to lose wasn't Victoria.*
