Chapter 2 - The Missing Minutes
Detective Mason returned that evening.
He did not bring a folder this time.
He brought questions.
Officer Mason: “Tell me everything you remember before the crash.”
Emma closed her eyes.
Rain.
The smell of wet pavement.
The radio.
Tyler.
Then something else.
A phone ringing.
Emma: “Someone called Tyler.”
Officer Mason: “Who?”
Emma shook her head.
Emma: “I don't know.”
Officer Mason: “Try.”
Emma remembered Tyler answering.
His voice had changed.
He sounded frightened.
Tyler: “Why are you calling me now?”
Then silence.
Emma opened her eyes.
Emma: “There was another person in the car.”
Officer Mason became still.
Officer Mason: “Are you certain?”
Emma: “I heard someone.”
Officer Mason: “Male or female?”
Emma hesitated.
Emma: “Female.”
The detective wrote something down.
Officer Mason: “Could it have been your mother?”
Emma stared at him.
Emma: “No.”
But she wasn't completely certain.
That frightened her.
The next morning, Tyler finally came to see her.
He looked exhausted.
Emma: “Why haven't you told them the truth?”
Tyler stared at the floor.
Tyler: “Because Mom said you'd hate me.”
Emma: “For telling the truth?”
Tyler said nothing.
Emma: “Tyler.”
He finally looked up.
Tyler: “There was someone else.”
Emma felt her pulse race.
Emma: “Who?”
Tyler glanced toward the hallway.
Tyler: “I don't know.”
Emma: “You just said there was someone else.”
Tyler: “I didn't see her face.”
Emma: “Then why are you protecting her?”
Tyler's eyes filled with fear.
Tyler: “Because Mom told me if I talked, Dad's secret would come out.”
Emma went silent.
Her father.
Again.
Always her father.
Emma: “What secret?”
Tyler shook his head.
Tyler: “Ask her.”
Then he left.
That night, Emma couldn't sleep.
At 2:17 a.m., her phone received a message from an unknown number.
You are blaming the wrong person.
Emma stared at the screen.
Another message appeared.
May you like
The camera survived.
Then the phone went dead.
