Chapter 4: The Woman in the Garage Video
"Marcus, don't trust...""
The recording froze before my mother could finish the sentence.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
My father stood in front of the television, holding his phone with both hands. His eyes were fixed on Danielle's face.
Vanessa was the first to speak.
"That footage is meaningless.""
Dad slowly turned toward her.
"Meaningless?""
"Old recordings can be manipulated. You know that.""
"That's your explanation?""
She crossed her arms.
"I'm trying to make you understand that Ethan has been digging through things he doesn't understand.""
I stood up from the staircase.
"My mother was alive that night. You were standing beside her. What were you doing there?""
Vanessa looked at me.
"Sit down, Ethan.""
"No.""
"Don't speak to me like that.""
"Then answer my question!""
My father's hand tightened around the phone.
"Vanessa, tell us what happened that night.""
She looked toward the front door.
That small movement told me more than her words ever could.
Dad noticed it too.
"Are you planning to leave?""
"No.""
"Then stay and explain.""
She sighed.
"Your mother was unstable, Marcus. She was paranoid about Daniel and convinced everyone was stealing from her.""
"Stop.""
"She accused me of things I didn't do.""
Dad stepped closer.
"Why were you with her that night?""
Vanessa's lips trembled.
"Because she asked me to meet her.""
"Why?""
"I don't remember.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You remember every insult you've ever made about my mother, but you don't remember meeting her on the night she supposedly died?""
"Enough!"" Dad shouted.
He replayed the clip.
This time, I watched the background carefully.
My mother stood beside the open garage door. Daniel held an envelope. Vanessa was positioned several feet behind them.
My mother pointed at Daniel.
Then she shook her head.
Daniel grabbed her wrist.
Even through the grainy footage, I could see my mother's reaction. She pulled away sharply.
Dad leaned closer to the screen.
"That's my brother's jacket.""
I looked at him.
"You recognize it?""
"He wore that jacket all the time. I gave it to him for Christmas.""
The footage continued.
Daniel walked out of frame.
My mother turned toward the camera and mouthed the unfinished warning.
Then Vanessa approached her.
They spoke for several seconds, but there was no audio.
My mother suddenly stepped backward.
Vanessa reached into her handbag and handed her something.
A set of keys.
The recording ended.
Dad lowered the phone.
"Where did you get those keys?""
Vanessa stared at him.
"What?""
"The keys she handed Danielle. What were they for?""
"I don't know.""
"You were standing there!""
"Marcus, I wasn't involved in whatever happened afterward.""
That sentence made my stomach drop.
Afterward.
She hadn't denied meeting my mother. She hadn't denied being there.
She was only denying what happened next.
Dad immediately opened another video.
The file had a different timestamp, eleven minutes after the first one.
The garage appeared empty.
A black sedan entered the driveway.
Uncle Daniel stepped out.
He looked around before opening the garage door.
Then he carried something inside.
A large brown envelope.
Dad whispered, "What the hell?""
Daniel reappeared without the envelope less than a minute later.
Before leaving, he looked directly toward the camera.
And smiled.
I felt cold all over.
"Why would he smile at a security camera?""
Dad didn't answer.
Instead, he opened the recording information.
The file had been saved in an archive created by my mother. Its original storage location was listed as an external device.
There was a note attached.
*DANIELLE — KEEP ORIGINAL — DO NOT DELETE.*
Dad stared at it.
"Your mother saved this herself.""
I nodded.
"She knew something was going to happen.""
Vanessa suddenly grabbed her purse.
"I'm leaving.""
Dad blocked the doorway.
"You're not going anywhere.""
"Move, Marcus.""
"Not until you tell me the truth.""
She looked at him with an expression I had never seen before.
Pure hatred.
"You really think you're innocent in all this?""
Dad frowned.
"What does that mean?""
"Ask yourself why Danielle stopped trusting you.""
My father went still.
Vanessa took advantage of his hesitation and slipped past him.
I moved toward her.
"Where are you going?""
"Somewhere I don't have to listen to you.""
She opened the front door.
Before stepping outside, she turned back.
"Ethan, your mother wasn't the woman you think she was.""
Then she disappeared into the evening.
Dad didn't chase her.
He was staring at the phone.
I came beside him.
"Do you believe her?""
He shook his head.
"I don't know what to believe anymore.""
Then another notification appeared.
A new email had arrived in the security account.
It contained one attachment and a short message.
*THE ORIGINAL FOOTAGE WAS NEVER THE WHOLE STORY. ASK DANIEL ABOUT THE HOSPITAL.*
Dad read it twice.
Then his phone began ringing.
May you like
The caller's name appeared on the screen.
*DANIEL WILLIAMS.*
