Chapter 9 - The Second Recording
Daniel raised both hands.
“Laura, listen to me.”
“You knew about the video?”
“No.”
“You knew she was going to say that?”
“No.”
“Then why did you stand up?”
“Because I know who sent it.”
Laura stepped backward.
“Who?”
Daniel looked toward the window.
“Elliot.”
Laura's heart pounded.
“How do you know?”
“Because he used the same system years ago.”
“What system?”
“Your father called it the mirror.”
Laura frowned.
“The mirror?”
“A way to make people believe one person was responsible for something when another person was controlling everything.”
Daniel looked at the phone.
“The recording may be manipulated.”
Laura stared at him.
“It shows my mother.”
“It could.”
“It sounds like her.”
“That doesn't prove anything.”
Laura didn't know what to believe.
Then another video arrived.
This one was older.
The image showed Laura's father sitting at the same kitchen table.
He looked directly into the camera.
“Laura, if this recording reaches you, I'm probably gone.”
Laura covered her mouth.
Her father continued.
“There are two people you must never trust.”
The recording paused.
Then he said the first name.
“Elliot Crane.”
Laura's eyes filled with tears.
Then came the second name.
“Daniel.”
The video ended.
Laura slowly looked at her husband.
Daniel's face was empty.
He didn't defend himself.
He simply said, “Now you know why I never wanted you to find the box.”
Laura stepped away.
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about my father.”
“Yes.”
“You lied about being out of town.”
“Yes.”
“Why should I believe anything you say?”
Daniel's eyes filled with regret.
“You shouldn't.”
That answer surprised her.
Daniel reached into his jacket.
He placed a key on the table.
It was different from the brass key.
“This opens the room your father never told you about.”
Laura stared at it.
“Where is it?”
“Beneath the old courthouse.”
Laura shook her head.
“That doesn't make sense.”
“It will.”
Daniel turned toward the door.
“Where are you going?”
“To find Margaret.”
“You're not leaving.”
Daniel stopped.
Laura picked up her phone.
“I recorded everything.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Good.”
Then he walked away.
Laura stood alone in the kitchen.
She looked at the two keys.
One from her father.
One from Daniel.
May you like
For the first time, she wondered whether they were meant to open two different doors.
Or the same one.
