Chapter 5: The Message She Didn't Want Him to See
Vanessa climbed three steps before Marcus spoke again.
"Come back downstairs.""
She stopped.
"Why?""
"Because we're going to finish this conversation.""
"I've answered everything.""
"No. You've avoided everything.""
She turned around, gripping the wooden railing.
"Marcus, I am not going to stand here while you treat me like some criminal.""
"Then stop behaving like someone who has something to hide.""
Her mouth tightened.
For a moment, she looked ready to shout.
Instead, she came back down.
Marcus's son had returned to the sofa. He sat quietly, holding the water bottle against his chest.
Marcus noticed the boy's cheek had become more swollen.
He pulled out his phone.
"I'm calling Dr. Harris.""
Vanessa scoffed.
"For a little red mark?""
Marcus turned toward her.
"He was hit hard enough to fall to the floor.""
"Children get hurt.""
"Not because an adult decides to slap them.""
The boy looked at his father.
"Dad, I'm okay.""
"I know, son. But we're still going to have you checked.""
Marcus called his family physician and arranged an examination.
When he ended the call, Vanessa was looking at her phone again.
It vibrated.
She quickly put it into her handbag.
Marcus noticed.
"Daniel?""
"No.""
"Then show me.""
"Absolutely not.""
"Why?""
"Because it's my private phone.""
Marcus nodded.
"You're right. I won't demand access to your private messages.""
Vanessa looked momentarily relieved.
"But I will preserve the security records, and I'll speak to Daniel directly.""
Her relief disappeared.
"Why would you do that?""
"Because he accessed my security system.""
"He's a technician.""
"Then he can explain why he attempted to access the foyer camera while we were standing here.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"You're turning an ordinary maintenance issue into a conspiracy.""
Marcus sat across from her.
"Let's make this simple. You say you saw my son stealing money. He says you placed it on the table. The camera should tell us what happened.""
"What if the camera doesn't show anything?""
"Then we'll investigate another way.""
"And if it shows him taking it?""
"Then I'll deal with that.""
Vanessa nodded quickly.
"Exactly. That's what I've been trying to tell you.""
Marcus studied her.
"But if it shows you placing the money there, you'll have to explain why.""
Her expression hardened.
"You're already convinced I'm guilty.""
"No. I'm waiting for evidence.""
A notification appeared on Marcus's phone.
The security company had sent him an email confirming that the overwrite request had been suspended.
He opened the message.
The company also recommended that the property owner preserve all available recordings from the connected cameras before further system changes were made.
Marcus accepted the recommendation.
Then he turned toward the tablet.
"Let's preserve the hallway and kitchen recordings too.""
Vanessa immediately stood.
"There's no reason to do that.""
"Why?""
"Because the incident happened in the foyer.""
"Maybe someone entered through the kitchen.""
"No one entered through the kitchen!""
The words came out too quickly.
Marcus looked at her.
"How do you know?""
Vanessa pressed her lips together.
"I mean, I didn't see anyone.""
Marcus slowly picked up the tablet.
"That's different.""
She walked toward him.
"Marcus, please listen to me. The system contains private footage of everyone in this house. You can't just hand it to strangers.""
"I'm not handing it to strangers. I'm asking the company to preserve the recordings.""
"Those recordings include me.""
"Then you should have no problem with an accurate record.""
Vanessa sat down again.
Her phone vibrated inside her handbag.
She ignored it.
Then it vibrated a second time.
Marcus looked toward the bag.
"You're receiving a lot of calls.""
"I have a life outside this conversation.""
"Answer it if it's important.""
She didn't move.
The phone vibrated a third time.
Finally, Vanessa pulled it out.
She stood and walked several feet away, but the foyer was large enough for Marcus to hear parts of the conversation.
"Daniel, I told you not to call me.""
A pause.
"No. He's here.""
Another pause.
"Because he has the tablet.""
Marcus looked up.
Vanessa turned her back.
"I don't care what you need to do. Just don't connect to the system again.""
She listened.
Her shoulders stiffened.
"Not tonight. Do you understand?""
She ended the call.
When she turned around, Marcus was watching her.
"Was that Daniel?""
"No.""
"Vanessa.""
"Fine. Yes.""
"What did he want?""
"To discuss the maintenance issue.""
"What maintenance issue?""
She shook her head.
"Why does everything need to be explained to you?""
Marcus stood.
"Because somebody is trying to change the recordings of an incident involving my son.""
Vanessa stepped toward him.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
"Maybe. But I'm going to make it with the facts in front of me.""
He opened the security company's email again.
There was an attachment containing the system's current administrator history.
He downloaded it.
A list of recent account actions appeared.
Marcus scanned the entries.
One line showed that Vanessa's account had accessed the foyer camera earlier that afternoon.
Another showed that the recording schedule had been changed.
But a third entry caught his attention.
It showed an additional device linked to the administrator account.
The device had been registered under a different name.
Marcus enlarged the screen.
*DEVICE OWNER: VANESSA REED.*
He looked up.
"Why are there two administrator devices registered under your name?""
Vanessa blinked.
"That's an old phone.""
"Where is it?""
"I don't know.""
"When did you stop using it?""
"A long time ago.""
Marcus tapped the device history.
The system displayed its most recent activity.
<text weight="semibold">ACTIVE TODAY — 4:18 P.M.</text>
Marcus looked at the wall clock.
Then at the phone in his hand.
The boy had said Vanessa called him downstairs shortly before the accusation.
The security history showed the second device had been active around that same time.
Marcus turned toward her.
"Where were you at 4:18?""
Vanessa's face went pale.
"I was here.""
"With your phone?""
"I don't remember.""
"Did you use that old device today?""
"No.""
Marcus looked at the tablet again.
The device history showed a second action.
A user had attempted to download the foyer recording.
The download had failed.
He tapped the account details.
The request came from the old device.
Vanessa stepped backward.
Marcus raised his eyes.
"Someone using your old device tried to download the recording before I came home.""
She stared at him.
"That wasn't me.""
"Then who was it?""
She didn't answer.
Marcus's phone rang.
An unfamiliar number appeared.
He answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Mr. Reed? My name is Daniel Collins. I installed the security system at your property.""
Marcus looked directly at Vanessa.
"Yes. I'm listening.""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"Sir, I think you need to know something about the camera footage from this afternoon.""
Marcus tightened his grip on the phone.
"What is it?""
May you like
Daniel hesitated.
"Your wife asked me to make sure that one particular recording never reached you.""
