Chapter 7 - The Woman Behind the CameraThe photograph wasn't surveillance.
It was a frame from a hidden security video.
Terrence had installed cameras around the hospital.
Not for protection.
For evidence.
Mr. Vale recovered the footage.
We watched it in silence.
Terrence entered a private hallway.
Grace followed.
Then Beatrice appeared.
She confronted him.
Even without sound, her expression was unmistakable.
Anger.
Then fear.
Terrence handed Grace an envelope.
Beatrice noticed.
She stepped toward them.
The video cut.
Another camera angle started.
Terrence was now alone.
He looked directly into the lens.
Then he spoke.
We had no audio.
Mr. Vale enhanced it.
The final words became clear.
“If I don't survive this, Elise must never trust anyone wearing the Caldwell crest.”
The screen froze.
I stared.
“Anyone?”
Mr. Vale nodded.
“Anyone.”
Then another figure entered the frame.
A man.
The same man from the chapel.
The black watch.
Daniel Mercer.
But he wasn't attacking Terrence.
He was protecting him.
I leaned toward the screen.
“Then why was he at the chapel?”
“Maybe he was protecting the evidence.”
“Or destroying it.”
Mr. Vale rewound.
Daniel looked toward the camera.
He raised two fingers.
A signal.
Then he pointed downward.
Toward the floor.
We paused.
“There's something under the hospital.”
That sounded absurd.
Until Grace called.
“He left a key.”
“What kind?”
“Locker key.”
“To what?”
“Hospital basement.”
Two hours later, we found the locker.
Inside was one envelope.
It contained a recording.
Terrence's voice.
Weak.
Ragged.
But unmistakable.
“Elise, if you're hearing this, I'm already gone.”
I covered my mouth.
“I need you to remember one thing.”
He paused.
“Do not avenge me because you love me.”
My eyes filled.
“Avenging me won't bring me back.”
A long silence.
“Find out who I was protecting.”
Mr. Vale and I looked at each other.
Terrence continued.
“There are people inside my company who were forced to participate in the theft.”
“Some were threatened.”
“Some were blackmailed.”
“One was threatened with death.”
I leaned closer.
“Her name is Mara.”
The recording ended.
I stared at Mr. Vale.
“Who is Mara?”
He didn't answer.
Then the basement door slammed shut.
We turned.
A woman stood at the far end of the corridor.
Mid-fifties.
Gray coat.
Terrified eyes.
She whispered:
“Elise?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Mara.”
She looked behind her.
“They found me.”
“Who?”
She reached into her coat.
Pulled out a flash drive.
And whispered:
“The person who ordered Terrence’s death.”
Before she could hand it to me, a gunshot shattered the hallway lights.
Mara fell.
May you like
The drive skidded across the floor.
And someone started running.
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