Chapter 7: The Password She Was Never Supposed to Have
"Why did you have Daniel's credentials?""
Marcus repeated the question.
Vanessa stood beside the dining table, her fingers gripping the back of a chair. The laptop screen illuminated her face, making the color drain from her cheeks.
"I already explained that," she said.
"No, you haven't.""
"I needed access to the system because Daniel wasn't always available.""
Daniel shook his head.
"That's not true, ma'am. I gave you temporary access once, when you reported a problem with the garage camera.""
Vanessa turned toward him.
"Don't contradict me.""
Daniel looked uncomfortable but continued.
"That password was supposed to expire after the service appointment.""
Marcus looked at the technician.
"Then why was it still active?""
"I don't know, sir. But someone used it today.""
Vanessa folded her arms.
"Anyone could have used it.""
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
"Who?""
"I don't know. Maybe someone hacked the system.""
Daniel shook his head.
"That's unlikely. The login required the temporary authentication code sent to the registered administrator device.""
Marcus turned toward Vanessa.
"Your old phone?""
She didn't answer.
Daniel opened the access history again.
"There's another detail, sir.""
He clicked on the suspicious login.
The screen displayed the time, device information, and the camera folder that had been accessed.
Marcus leaned closer.
"What did this person do?""
"They didn't open the recording. They attempted to change its permissions.""
"Why?""
"To prevent the protected backup from being available through the regular administrator dashboard.""
Marcus stared at the screen.
"So someone tried to hide it.""
Daniel nodded.
"Yes, sir.""
Vanessa suddenly laughed.
It was a short, nervous sound.
"This is absurd. You're letting a technician turn a simple household disagreement into some criminal investigation.""
Marcus looked at her.
"Then tell us why you needed his password.""
"I told you. To manage the system.""
"Why did you access the backup today?""
"I didn't.""
"Why did your administrator account request an overwrite?""
"I don't know!""
"Why did you stop me from pressing PLAY?""
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Because I knew you'd react exactly like this!""
Marcus stepped closer.
"Like what?""
"Like an angry man who doesn't trust anyone!""
His son appeared at the doorway.
"Dad?""
Marcus turned.
"What's wrong?""
The boy looked at Vanessa.
"Can I go upstairs?""
Marcus nodded.
"Of course. Take your water with you.""
The boy started toward the staircase.
Vanessa called after him.
"Don't go anywhere until I tell you!""
The boy stopped immediately.
Marcus turned around.
"Don't give him orders.""
Vanessa threw her hands up.
"This is unbelievable! He's still a child. Someone needs to teach him respect.""
Marcus's voice became colder.
"He doesn't owe you obedience after what happened today.""
The boy continued upstairs.
Daniel watched the exchange silently.
When the footsteps disappeared, Marcus returned to the laptop.
"Can you make a copy of every available recording and access log?""
"Yes, sir.""
"Do it without changing the original files.""
"Understood.""
Daniel connected an encrypted storage device.
A progress window appeared.
While the files transferred, Marcus examined the account history.
Something else caught his attention.
A second administrator action had been recorded at 4:32 p.m.
The description read:
*REMOTE ACCESS — ARCHIVE PERMISSION CHANGE.*
Marcus pointed.
"What's this?""
Daniel leaned forward.
"That was the second attempt.""
"From the same device?""
Daniel checked.
"No. A different device.""
"Whose?""
Daniel opened the details.
The registered owner was Vanessa's old mobile phone.
Marcus slowly turned toward her.
"Your old phone was active at 4:32.""
Vanessa stared at the screen.
"I told you I don't have it.""
"Then someone else has it.""
"Apparently.""
"Who?""
"I don't know!""
Marcus studied her for several seconds.
Then he asked something that made Daniel stop typing.
"Where were you between four and five this afternoon?""
Vanessa blinked.
"Here.""
"Alone?""
"Yes.""
"Did you leave the house?""
"No.""
"Did you go near the security console?""
"I don't remember.""
Marcus looked at Daniel.
"Can the system show which camera recorded activity near the console?""
Daniel nodded.
"Possibly. The hallway camera covers part of that area.""
Vanessa immediately stepped toward the laptop.
"That camera has been unreliable for months.""
Daniel looked up.
"Actually, ma'am, it was working normally today.""
Marcus glanced at him.
"Can we check its status?""
"Yes.""
Daniel opened the hallway camera's diagnostics.
The recording status showed uninterrupted operation.
No gaps.
No restricted periods.
Marcus looked at Vanessa.
"You said the cameras weren't reliable.""
She swallowed.
"I said sometimes they have problems.""
"But this one didn't.""
Daniel clicked another tab.
"There's a motion event at 4:31.""
Marcus leaned closer.
"Show me.""
Daniel selected the event.
A still thumbnail appeared.
The image was small, dark, and slightly blurred.
It showed a person standing near the hallway console.
Marcus couldn't make out the face.
But the person was holding a phone.
Daniel enlarged the image.
The figure's clothing became clearer.
A red sleeve.
Marcus slowly looked at Vanessa's dress.
She immediately stepped backward.
"That's not me.""
Marcus said nothing.
Daniel examined the timestamp.
"The event was recorded at 4:31 and 42 seconds.""
Marcus looked at the still image again.
"Can we preserve it?""
"Already done.""
Vanessa grabbed her handbag.
"I'm leaving.""
Marcus turned.
"Where?""
"Out. I need air.""
"Wait.""
"I don't have to stay here while you humiliate me.""
She walked toward the front entrance.
Marcus didn't chase her.
Instead, he spoke calmly.
"The security company has preserved the records. The technician has made a copy. You can leave, but you won't be changing anything on this system.""
Vanessa stopped at the door.
Her shoulders rose and fell.
Then she turned.
"Marcus, you don't know what you're doing.""
He looked directly at her.
"Then help me understand.""
She stared at him.
For a second, something almost like regret crossed her face.
But it disappeared.
"You'll wish you had trusted me.""
She opened the door and walked outside.
Daniel waited until the door closed.
Then he quietly said:
"Mr. Reed, there's one more thing I haven't told you.""
Marcus looked at him.
"What?""
Daniel turned the laptop toward him.
"The recording from the hallway wasn't the only backup created today.""
A second folder appeared.
Its title was a timestamp.
*4:12 P.M. — SECONDARY ARCHIVE.*
Marcus stared at it.
"What's in that folder?""
Daniel lowered his voice.
"An earlier recording of the money being brought into the foyer.""
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
He looked toward the staircase where his son had disappeared.
Then back at the laptop.
"Open it.""
Daniel moved his cursor toward the file.
But before he clicked, another notification appeared.
*FILE ACCESS RESTRICTED — ORIGINAL ACCOUNT OWNER REQUIRED.*
Marcus frowned.
"Who is the original owner?""
Daniel read the information.
May you like
Then his face changed.
"Your wife.""
