Chapter 3 - The Camera in the Wall
Emma regained consciousness shortly after midnight.
Lily was sleeping safely beside her in a hospital bassinet. Her temperature had stabilized, and the doctor had assured Adrian that she was responding well.
Emma’s own condition was improving, though exhaustion made every movement difficult.
Adrian sat beside the bed with the memory card in his palm.
“Tell me about the camera.”
Emma looked toward the closed door.
“I noticed it last week.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I wasn’t sure what it was. There was a tiny reflection behind one of the books in Richard’s office.”
“You went back to check tonight?”
“I went back for Lily’s insurance papers. When I found the transfer records, I remembered the camera.”
“How did you get the recording?”
“There was a storage unit behind the bookcase. The access panel wasn’t locked.”
Adrian frowned.
“My father never leaves anything unlocked.”
“This was not his system.”
Emma explained that the recorder contained seven months of footage. Most of it showed Richard meeting accountants, lawyers, and business associates.
One folder was different.
It was labeled E.H.
“Those are my initials,” Emma said.
The folder contained clips from security cameras throughout the estate.
Her bedroom.
The nursery hallway.
The kitchen.
The garage.
Someone had been documenting her movements.
Adrian connected the memory card to an isolated hospital computer.
The system requested a password.
Emma entered LILY1209.
The folder opened.
Adrian looked at her.
“How did you know?”
“That was written on a note beside the recorder.”
The first video showed Emma carrying Lily into the kitchen three months earlier.
The second showed her collecting mail.
The third showed her entering the office.
Then Adrian noticed a column of timestamps beside the videos.
Each timestamp corresponded to a financial transfer.
Someone had created a record showing Emma near Richard’s office whenever money moved from Adrian’s accounts.
“It’s manufactured evidence,” Adrian said.
Emma nodded.
“They were building a case against me.”
“For theft?”
“Maybe.”
Adrian opened a video recorded two weeks earlier.
Richard stood inside the office with Vivian and the family attorney, Grant Mercer.
Grant had served the Vale family for more than three decades. He had attended Adrian’s graduation, arranged his grandfather’s funeral, and drafted Adrian and Emma’s marriage agreement.
On the recording, Grant placed several documents on Richard’s desk.
“We have enough activity to show a pattern,” he said.
Vivian folded her arms.
“And the account?”
“Registered in Emma’s name. Fully verified.”
“She could claim identity theft.”
“Not with the voice authorization.”
Richard looked toward the camera.
“What about Adrian?”
“He will believe the records,” Grant said. “He always believes systems before people.”
Adrian paused the video.
Emma watched his face carefully.
“I am sorry.”
He turned toward her.
“For what?”
“For thinking there was a chance he might be right.”
Adrian leaned closer.
“There wasn’t.”
“You looked at me after Jonah said the account belonged to me.”
“I looked at you because I knew you were afraid.”
Emma’s eyes filled with tears.
“I thought you believed them.”
Adrian took her hand.
“I knew the signature was false before the investigator called.”
“How?”
“My legal signature has an intentional break between the A and the V. The one on that document doesn’t.”
Emma looked at the frozen image of Grant Mercer.
“Then why create an account in my name before we met?”
“That is what I intend to find out.”
Adrian resumed the video.
Grant removed a second folder from his briefcase.
“We should complete the final transfer before the child’s first birthday.”
Vivian glanced toward the door.
“And after that?”
“We proceed with the custody petition.”
Emma stopped breathing.
Adrian’s hand tightened around hers.
Grant continued.
“Once Emma is charged, Adrian will have no choice. Lily will remain with the family.”
The video ended.
A new file appeared beneath it.
It had been recorded earlier that night.
Richard and Vivian stood in the office after forcing Emma outside.
Richard held Emma’s stolen phone.
“The photographs are gone,” he said.
Vivian looked toward Grant.
“Then activate the account.”
Grant entered a code into his laptop.
“Done.”
Richard poured himself a drink.
“By morning, Emma Vale will be responsible for stealing $1.8 million.”
Grant closed the computer.
“Not Emma Vale.”
May you like
He smiled.
“Emma Hart.”
