Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT BEFORE THE ACCIDENT|
I watched the recording four times.
Each time, Meredith's voice sounded more unmistakable.
"After tomorrow, we won't have to worry about Sarah anymore."
Paul had nodded, opened the briefcase, and removed a stack of documents. They searched Sarah's office for eleven minutes, pulling books from shelves and opening drawers.
Before leaving, Meredith stood beside the desk and looked directly toward the hidden camera.
For one terrible second, I thought she had seen it.
Then she smiled.
She switched off the desk lamp and walked away.
Marcus froze the final image.
"She may have known this camera existed," he said. "Or she may have been looking at something behind it."
I felt sick.
The woman I had married had been searching my late wife's office with my business partner. They had been discussing a file Sarah believed could expose financial fraud.
And the next day, Sarah died in a car accident.
I called Detective Mitchell and sent her the footage.
She instructed us not to confront Meredith until the evidence had been reviewed. She also warned me that the video established suspicious conduct, not proof of murder.
I understood.
But I could not make myself look at my wife without hearing those words.
That evening, Meredith cooked dinner as though nothing had changed.
She asked about my work, complimented Lily's drawing, and told me she had arranged a weekend trip for the two of us.
"Just a chance to reconnect," she said. "We've been under so much stress."
I stared at her.
"Where would Lily stay?"
"With your mother, naturally."
"No."
She paused with her fork halfway to her mouth.
"What do you mean, no?"
"Lily stays with me."
Meredith put the fork down.
"David, you're becoming obsessed with this investigation."
"I saw the footage."
Her face emptied.
"What footage?"
"The hallway camera. The one you and Paul didn't know was recording."
She stood so quickly her chair scraped the floor.
"You had no right to spy on me!"
"It was installed by my wife. The first one. Sarah."
Meredith stared at me.
Then she laughed, but the sound was brittle.
"Sarah was paranoid. She thought everyone was plotting against her. You're making the same mistake."
"Why were you searching her office?"
"We were looking for financial records."
"Why?"
"Because Sarah accused me of mishandling foundation money. She was wrong, and she knew it."
"Then why did you say we wouldn't have to worry about her after tomorrow?"
Meredith's lips parted.
For the first time, she had no prepared answer.
I rose.
"You will sleep in the guest room. You will not be alone with Lily. And until the investigation is complete, you will not enter my office."
Her eyes hardened.
"You can't control me."
"No. But I can protect my daughter."
I expected her to argue.
Instead, she smiled faintly.
"You're making a terrible mistake, David."
She walked out of the dining room.
Ten minutes later, I heard the front door close.
Meredith had left the house.
I called her phone.
It went straight to voicemail.
Then Marcus sent me a message.
He had checked the driveway camera.
Meredith had not taken her car.
A black sedan had collected her from the side entrance.
May you like
The driver was Paul Danner.
And the vehicle had been seen near Sarah's crash site eighteen months earlier.
