Chapter 5 - The First Recording
Detective Mason examined the memory card.
It contained one video.
Seven minutes long.
The image was distorted.
The camera appeared to be inside the car.
Rain struck the windshield.
Tyler was driving.
Emma sat beside him.
Then a third person entered the frame.
Emma could not see her face.
But she recognized the voice.
Diane.
Diane: “You need to keep driving.”
Tyler: “Mom, this is crazy.”
Emma's recorded voice could be heard.
Emma: “What are you talking about?”
The video suddenly skipped.
Then Tyler shouted.
Tyler: “You said nobody would get hurt!”
Emma stared at the screen.
Officer Mason paused the recording.
Officer Mason: “You don't remember this?”
Emma shook her head.
Emma: “No.”
The recording resumed.
Diane was speaking.
Diane: “Your sister knows too much.”
Emma felt her stomach drop.
Tyler: “She doesn't know anything.”
Diane: “Not yet.”
The image shook violently.
Then came a loud sound.
The screen went black.
Emma looked at Detective Mason.
Emma: “That's not the whole recording.”
Officer Mason: “No.”
Emma: “How do you know?”
Officer Mason pointed at the timestamp.
Officer Mason: “The camera stopped at 9:42.”
Emma: “The accident happened at 9:51.”
Nine minutes were missing.
Someone had deleted them.
Or replaced the file.
Then Detective Mason noticed something.
Officer Mason: “Wait.”
He enlarged one frame.
A reflection appeared in the window.
Not Diane.
Not Tyler.
Not Emma.
Someone else was standing outside the vehicle.
A woman.
Emma stared at the reflection.
Emma: “I know her.”
Officer Mason: “Who?”
May you like
Emma's voice dropped.
Emma: “That's my father's business partner.”
