Chapter 2: The Camera Dad Never Mentioned
Dad reached my bedroom before Vanessa could finish cleaning up the hallway.
I was still kneeling beside the dress, trying to lift its soaked hem without tearing the lace. My hands smelled of mud. The carpet beneath me had turned a dirty shade of brown.
Dad stopped at the threshold.
His briefcase slipped from his hand and landed beside the door.
"Emily?""
I looked up.
He saw my face first. Then he saw the gown.
For several seconds, he said nothing.
My father, Michael Carter, was a man who rarely raised his voice. He ran a construction company, negotiated million-dollar contracts, and could silence an entire boardroom with a single look.
But I'd never seen him look at something with such quiet disbelief.
"What happened to your dress?""
I opened my mouth.
Vanessa appeared behind him.
"Honey, thank goodness you're home. Madison was cleaning the bathroom and accidentally spilled some water. Emily's upset because it's so close to the wedding.""
Dad turned slowly.
"Some water?""
Vanessa nodded sympathetically.
"It was an unfortunate accident. I've already told Emily we'll help her figure something out tomorrow.""
"Tomorrow?"" I repeated.
"My wedding is tomorrow morning!""
Vanessa gave me a warning look.
Dad ignored it.
"How much water?""
She hesitated.
"What?""
"How much water did Madison spill?""
"A bucket, I suppose.""
"And where is the bucket?""
Vanessa's mouth tightened.
"Michael, why does that matter?""
"Because I asked you a question.""
Madison appeared in the hallway, her arms wrapped around herself. Her eyes were already wet.
"I didn't mean to do it, Dad.""
Dad looked at her.
"Did you pour the water on Emily's dress?""
Madison lowered her eyes.
"It slipped.""
"Buckets don't slip upward onto wardrobes.""
She began to cry.
"I was trying to help clean up. Emily started yelling, and I panicked.""
I stared at her.
"You were standing over my dress when I walked in.""
"See?"" Madison cried.
"She always does this! She twists everything I say!""
Vanessa immediately pulled her daughter against her.
"That's enough, Emily. Madison is clearly distressed.""
Dad didn't look at either of them.
Instead, he walked into my room and examined the dress. He crouched beside the hem, touching the wet lace with two fingers.
"Is this the piece from your mother's veil?""
I nodded.
My throat had closed.
His jaw tightened.
"I remember helping your mother choose that lace.""
For the first time, Vanessa's expression shifted. Her smile disappeared, replaced by an impatient frown.
"Michael, please don't encourage this. It's late, and we have guests arriving tomorrow.""
Dad stood.
"Everyone, stay here.""
He walked toward the hallway.
Vanessa followed him.
"Where are you going?""
"To get my phone.""
"Michael, don't turn this into something it isn't.""
He continued downstairs.
Madison glanced at her mother.
"What is he doing?""
Vanessa caught her daughter's arm and pulled her close enough to whisper.
"I told you to clean everything up.""
"I tried!""
"Then you should have tried harder.""
Their voices faded as they hurried down the stairs.
I stayed beside my dress, listening to the muffled argument below. A cabinet opened. Something clattered. Then Dad's footsteps returned.
He entered my bedroom holding his phone.
"Emily, I need you to tell me something honestly.""
I wiped my cheeks.
"Anything.""
"Have you noticed anything missing from your room lately?""
My stomach tightened.
"What do you mean?""
"Jewelry. Money. Anything that belonged to your mother.""
I thought about the little velvet jewelry box in the locked drawer beside my bed.
The diamond necklace Mom had worn on her wedding day was inside it the last time I'd checked. Dad had given it to me on my eighteenth birthday, telling me that my mother wanted me to have it when I was ready.
I hadn't worn it since.
"No," I said uncertainly.
"Why?""
Dad glanced toward the hallway.
"Because I've been noticing some things.""
Vanessa suddenly appeared in the doorway.
"Michael, whatever you're thinking, stop. You're frightening everyone over a dress.""
He didn't answer.
Instead, he opened an app on his phone.
I recognized the small grid of camera feeds immediately. Dad had installed a new security system after a series of expensive tools disappeared from his home office. I'd assumed the cameras covered the garage and front entrance.
Apparently, I'd been wrong.
Vanessa went pale.
"What's that?""
"Security footage.""
She laughed nervously.
"Of what?""
Dad tapped the screen.
"The upstairs hallway.""
Madison stepped forward.
"Dad, why would you record us?""
"Because this is my house, Madison. And recently, things have been happening here that nobody seems able to explain.""
He turned up the volume.
The screen showed the hallway outside my bedroom earlier that evening. Madison appeared carrying a bucket.
Vanessa followed her.
On the recording, my stepmother looked both ways before leaning close to Madison's ear.
Dad pressed play.
Vanessa's voice filled the room.
"Make sure you ruin the front of it, Madison. She won't have time to replace it before tomorrow.""
Madison glanced at the camera's position on the ceiling.
Then she grinned.
"Don't worry, Mom. I'll make sure she cries.""
The video continued.
Madison lifted the bucket.
The brown water poured over my wedding dress.
Vanessa clapped her hands once and laughed.
Dad paused the recording.
Nobody moved.
He turned toward his wife.
"You told her to do this?""
Vanessa's lips parted, but no sound came out.
Madison began shaking her head.
"It was a joke! We were just messing around!""
Dad looked at her with an expression I'd never seen before.
"Do you think destroying your sister's wedding dress is funny?""
"She's not my sister!"" Madison snapped.
The words hung in the air.
Vanessa grabbed her arm.
"Madison, shut up!""
But it was too late.
Dad slowly turned his attention back to the phone.
"I'm not finished watching.""
He dragged the playback slider backward, stopping at an earlier time.
On the screen, Vanessa entered my bedroom while I was downstairs helping the caterer confirm tomorrow's arrangements.
She went straight to my dresser.
She opened the top drawer, then the second.
Finally, she knelt beside the locked cabinet where I kept my mother's jewelry.
Dad's expression changed.
"What were you looking for in Emily's room?""
Vanessa swallowed.
"I was looking for a sewing kit.""
"In a locked drawer?""
"I don't remember!""
Dad enlarged the image.
The recording showed Vanessa holding something small and metallic.
A key.
My key.
She unlocked the cabinet.
Madison appeared in the doorway, carrying a handbag.
And then Vanessa said something that made Dad stop breathing for a moment.
"Once we get the necklace, the buyer will pay the rest.""
I stared at the screen.
"The necklace?""
Dad looked at me.
"Emily, check your jewelry box.""
My legs felt strangely weak as I crossed the room. I unlocked the drawer and pulled out the velvet box.
I opened it.
The necklace was gone.
So was the small diamond pendant Mom had worn every Christmas.
I turned toward Dad, my hands trembling.
"Someone stole her jewelry.""
Dad's face became frighteningly calm.
He returned to the recording and watched the next few seconds.
Then he looked at Vanessa.
"Who is the buyer?""
She shook her head.
"You don't understand.""
Dad held up his phone.
"Then explain it to me.""
Vanessa looked at Madison.
Madison looked at the floor.
And from somewhere downstairs, the doorbell rang.
A man's voice called through the entryway.
"Vanessa? I've come for the necklace. Do you have it?""
Dad turned toward the stairs.
Then he looked back at his wife.
May you like
"Interesting," he said quietly.
"Why don't we all go see who's waiting for my daughter's stolen inheritance?""
