CHAPTER TWENTY: THE FOOTAGE
1777 Words
The projector flickered.
Sarah couldn’t breathe.
The image on the wall was grainy, distorted by age, but there was no mistaking the location.
The warehouse.
The same warehouse where Adrian had died.
The same place where Daniel had been blamed.
The same place where Michael had just admitted he had been present.
Sarah looked at the screen.
Three figures stood inside the building.
Michael.
Daniel.
Adrian.
And then—
A fourth shadow moved behind them.
Victor.
Sarah’s hand flew to her mouth.
“Oh my God.”
Daniel didn’t move.
His eyes were locked on the screen.
The footage continued.
Adrian was arguing with Michael.
Even without sound, Sarah could see the anger in his movements.
Michael appeared frightened.
Daniel stepped between them.
Then Victor entered the frame.
He said something.
Adrian turned toward him.
The video suddenly distorted.
The screen went black.
Sarah stared.
“No.”
The projector flickered again.
A second clip appeared.
This time, the camera angle was closer.
Adrian was standing near the edge of the upper floor.
Michael was several feet away.
Daniel stood beside him.
Victor was behind Adrian.
Sarah’s heart began pounding.
Victor moved.
Adrian turned.
Then—
The footage cut.
Sarah screamed.
“Play it!”
Daniel rushed toward the projector.
The screen went black.
“Where is the rest?”
He searched the equipment.
Nothing.
Michael stared at the wall.
“I’ve never seen this.”
Daniel turned sharply.
“You knew there was footage.”
“I knew there was a camera.”
“You said you didn’t know.”
“I didn’t know Victor had it.”
Daniel grabbed Michael by the collar.
“You let me spend years believing I did this.”
Michael didn’t fight back.
“I know.”
“You watched me lose everything.”
“I know.”
Daniel’s fist tightened.
Sarah stepped between them.
“Stop!”
Daniel released him.
Michael stumbled backward.
Sarah looked at both men.
“Someone recorded Adrian’s death.”
Neither answered.
“And someone deliberately cut the footage.”
Daniel nodded.
“Yes.”
Sarah looked toward the projector.
“Then the missing part is where the truth is.”
Michael’s face changed.
“Yes.”
“Who has it?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel looked at him.
“Victor.”
Michael shook his head.
“Maybe.”
Sarah turned toward him.
“What do you mean?”
Michael swallowed.
“Victor wasn’t the only person who had access to the footage.”
Sarah’s heart sank.
“Who else?”
Michael hesitated.
“Adrian.”
Daniel froze.
“Adrian had a copy?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
Sarah looked between them.
“Then why did you tell me the recording was missing?”
Michael’s expression crumbled.
“Because I was trying to protect you.”
“From what?”
He looked at her.
“From the truth.”
Sarah laughed bitterly.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Her phone suddenly vibrated.
She looked down.
A message from Victor.
Now you know where the story begins.
Then another.
But you still don’t know why Adrian was killed.
Sarah’s blood ran cold.
Daniel took the phone from her.
“Don’t respond.”
He stared at the messages.
Then his expression changed.
“What?”
Daniel looked at Sarah.
“There’s something wrong.”
“What?”
“He isn’t asking for anything.”
Sarah frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“He already has the recording.”
“Then what does he want?”
Daniel looked toward Michael.
Michael whispered:
“Us.”
The projector suddenly turned off.
The warehouse went completely dark.
Then a speaker crackled overhead.
Victor’s voice filled the room.
“Not quite.”
Sarah froze.
“You’ve been asking the wrong question.”
His voice echoed around them.
“The question isn’t who killed Adrian?”
A pause.
“It is…”
The projector switched on again.
A photograph appeared.
A young Sarah.
Taken years before she ever met Michael.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Michael went pale.
Sarah couldn’t move.
Victor’s voice returned.
“Why was Sarah chosen?”
Silence.
Daniel slowly turned toward her.
Sarah stared at the photograph.
Her entire body went cold.
She whispered:
“That’s impossible.”
Daniel’s face hardened.
“No.”
Michael looked terrified.
“It’s not.”
Sarah turned toward him.
“What are you talking about?”
Michael didn’t answer.
“Michael.”
His lips parted.
Then the speaker crackled again.
Victor laughed softly.
“Now we’re getting somewhere.”
The screen changed.
Another photograph appeared.
This one showed Sarah much younger.
Standing beside a woman she recognized immediately.
Her mother.
Sarah’s heart stopped.
Victor’s voice whispered:
“Your mother knew Adrian.”
Sarah’s world tilted.
And suddenly, the mystery was no longer about three college friends.
It was about her family.
Sarah stared at the photograph.
Her mother.
Younger. Smiling.
Standing beside Adrian.
Sarah’s mind refused to process it.
“My mother knew Adrian?”
Michael looked at the floor.
Daniel turned toward him.
“You knew?”
Michael shook his head.
“Not about this.”
“Then explain the photograph.”
“I can’t.”
Sarah’s voice cracked.
“Stop saying that!”
The speaker above them crackled.
Victor’s laughter echoed through the warehouse.
“That’s the problem with Michael.”
A pause.
“He has spent his entire life confusing silence with innocence.”
Sarah looked up.
“Victor!”
“You want answers, Sarah?”
“Yes.”
“Then ask your husband what your mother did for Adrian.”
Sarah turned toward Michael.
“What did she do?”
Michael’s face had gone pale.
“I don’t know.”
Victor laughed.
“You really don’t.”
The screen changed.
Another photograph appeared.
This time, Sarah’s mother was standing outside a university building.
Adrian was beside her.
In his hands was a folder.
Sarah stared.
“What is that?”
Victor answered.
“Evidence.”
Daniel stepped toward the screen.
“Evidence of what?”
“Your past.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.
“Stop playing games.”
Victor’s voice became colder.
“You’ve spent years believing Michael destroyed your life.”
A pause.
“He didn’t.”
Daniel froze.
Victor continued.
“He helped.”
Sarah looked at Daniel.
“Then who did?”
The screen went black.
Victor’s voice came one last time.
“Find the woman who knew the truth.”
The speaker clicked off.
Silence.
Sarah’s breathing became shallow.
“My mother.”
Michael nodded slowly.
“I think so.”
Sarah turned on him.
“You think?”
“I never knew she was involved.”
“But you knew Adrian.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew something connected our families.”
“I knew there was a connection.”
Sarah stared at him.
“You married me knowing this?”
Michael looked devastated.
“I married you because I loved you.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because your mother made me promise.”
Sarah stopped.
“What?”
Michael swallowed.
“She told me never to tell you what happened.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Daniel suddenly stepped closer.
“Where is she?”
Sarah looked at him.
“My mother?”
Daniel nodded.
“Where is your mother now?”
Sarah’s expression changed.
“She died six years ago.”
Daniel went still.
“Are you sure?”
Sarah frowned.
“Of course I’m sure.”
“Then who has her records?”
“What records?”
“Medical records. Financial records. Anything.”
Sarah shook her head.
“Why?”
“Because if Victor is telling the truth, your mother knew something about Adrian.”
“And you think she left something behind.”
“Yes.”
Michael interrupted.
“There was a box.”
Sarah turned.
“What box?”
“Your mother kept it in the house.”
Sarah stared at him.
“You knew?”
“I saw it once.”
“Where?”
“In your mother’s study.”
Sarah’s heart raced.
“My mother’s study was cleared after her death.”
“Not everything.”
Michael looked at her.
“There was a locked compartment behind the bookshelf.”
Sarah’s breath caught.
“You never told me.”
“I was afraid.”
Daniel shook his head.
“Everyone is always afraid.”
Sarah looked between them.
“Then we’re going back.”
Michael frowned.
“Where?”
“My mother’s house.”
“Sarah—”
“I want answers.”
Daniel nodded.
“I’m coming.”
Sarah looked at him.
“No.”
His expression tightened.
“I need to know what happened too.”
“This is my family.”
“And Victor knows about it.”
Sarah hesitated.
Daniel stepped closer.
“Which means you’re not going alone.”
She didn’t answer.
But she didn’t tell him to leave either.
⸻
An hour later, Sarah stood outside her mother’s old house.
The place had been empty for years.
Dust covered the windows.
The garden had grown wild.
She unlocked the door.
Inside, everything smelled like memories.
Sarah walked slowly toward the study.
Michael and Daniel followed behind her.
She stopped before the bookshelf.
“Which one?”
Michael pointed.
“The third shelf.”
Sarah pulled the books aside.
Nothing.
Daniel ran his fingers along the wood.
“Here.”
He pressed a hidden latch.
Click.
A narrow compartment opened.
Inside was a small black box.
Sarah stared.
Her hands trembled as she picked it up.
There was no lock.
She opened it.
Inside were photographs.
Letters.
A flash drive.
And one handwritten note.
Sarah unfolded it.
Her mother’s handwriting.
Sarah,
If you are reading this, then the past has found you.
Sarah’s eyes filled with tears.
She continued.
There are things about your father, Adrian, Michael, and Daniel that I never told you.
Daniel moved closer.
Sarah kept reading.
I thought silence would protect you.
Her hands began shaking.
Then came the final line.
But I was wrong.
Sarah looked up.
Daniel’s eyes were fixed on the letter.
Michael looked terrified.
Sarah slowly turned the page.
There was one final sentence.
The man responsible for Adrian’s death was never arrested.
Her breath caught.
And beneath it—
A name.
Sarah stared.
Then whispered:
“Victor isn’t the killer.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Who is?”
Sarah turned the page toward them.
Her face had gone completely pale.
The name written there was one neither man expected.
Michael’s father.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD