Chapter 12: The Recording
We drove home faster than we should have.
My father didn’t say a word.
Neither did I.
The entire ride, I kept thinking about one thing.
Claire had found the recording.
Or she wanted us to believe she had.
Either way, she was preparing something.
When we entered the house, Claire was sitting in the living room.
Calm.
Almost peaceful.
That scared me.
Because every time Claire was calm, someone usually got hurt.
She looked at the folder in my father’s hand.
“So you found it.””
My father stopped.
“How?””
She smiled.
“I know this house better than you think.””
My father’s face hardened.
“You searched for it.””
“No.””
“Then how did you know?””
Claire leaned back.
“Because your mother always thought she was smarter than everyone else.””
I stepped forward.
“Where is the recording?””
She looked at me.
“You’re very impatient.””
“Answer me.””
Claire smiled.
“You sound like your mother.””
The comment made my blood boil.
“Don’t say her name.””
For a moment, Claire looked surprised.
Then she laughed.
“There she is.””
My father moved between us.
“Give us the recording.””
Claire crossed her legs.
“What if I don’t?””
“Then we call the police.””
She smiled.
“On what evidence?””
My father froze.
Claire noticed.
“That’s the problem, Mark.””
She stood.
“Everyone thinks they know the truth. But the truth needs proof.””
I looked at her.
“You have the recording?””
She walked to the table.
Then placed a small device down.
My heart stopped.
A voice recorder.
My father stared.
“Where did you get that?””
Claire smiled.
“From the same place your wife hid it.””
Rebecca stepped forward.
“She stole it.””
Claire looked at her.
“Well, look who finally came back.””
The two women stared at each other.
My father looked confused.
“You know each other.””
Rebecca’s face hardened.
“Yes.””
Claire laughed.
“Tell him.””
Nobody spoke.
“Tell him what you did.””
Rebecca looked uncomfortable.
My father turned.
“Rebecca?””
She took a breath.
“I used to work with Claire.””
My stomach dropped.
“What?””
Rebecca looked at me.
“I didn’t know what she was doing at first.””
Claire smiled.
“Convenient.””
Rebecca ignored her.
“When I realized what was happening, I helped your mother collect evidence.””
My father looked at Claire.
“And you knew she helped?””
Claire’s expression changed.
“Yes.””
The room became silent.
Then Claire said:
“That’s why I had to stop your mother before she exposed me.””
The words came out too quickly.
Everyone froze.
Even Claire.
She realized what she had just said.
My father slowly looked at her.
“What did you say?””
Claire’s face changed.
“I meant—”
“No.””
His voice was quiet.
Dangerously quiet.
“You said you had to stop her.””
Claire stepped back.
“I didn’t mean it like that.””
I looked at the recorder.
The device on the table.
My heart started racing.
“Dad.””
He looked at me.
“What?””
“The recorder.””
Everyone stared.
I pointed.
“It’s recording.””
Claire’s face turned white.
Because she realized something.
The entire conversation had been captured.
My father slowly reached for the device.
Claire suddenly lunged forward.
“No!””
The room exploded into chaos.
My father grabbed the recorder first.
Claire stood frozen.
Her secret was no longer hidden.
My father pressed the button.
And the first thing we heard was Claire’s own voice saying:
“Your mother was never supposed to find out what I did.””
Claire’s face completely collapsed.
May you like
Because for the first time…
She wasn’t controlling the story anymore.
