Chapter 13 - The Perfect FrameEmma was taken to the police station.
The interrogation room was cold.
A detective placed the photograph on the table.
"Your fingerprints."
"I've never touched that gun."
"Your father's blood was found on your clothing."
Emma looked down.
The emerald gown.
She remembered brushing against him at the engagement party.
But the blood had been cleaned.
Unless it hadn't been her father.
Unless someone had planted it.
The detective slid another image across the table.
Security footage.
Emma entering the building where her father was killed.
The timestamp was real.
Her face was visible.
Emma's stomach sank.
"I wasn't there."
The detective stared.
"You were."
"No."
"Then explain the footage."
She had no answer.
Until Daniel entered the room.
He had been waiting outside.
He placed a laptop on the table.
"Because the footage was altered."
The detective frowned.
Daniel played the original security recording.
For three minutes, the footage showed Emma.
Then it jumped.
A missing segment.
"Someone replaced the last five minutes."
The detective stared.
"How do you know?"
"Because I recovered the original server."
The detective looked at Emma.
"You're free."
But before Emma could stand, Daniel's phone rang.
He answered.
His face changed.
"What?"
He listened.
Then whispered:
"Adrian is awake."
Emma ran to the hospital.
Adrian looked pale.
But conscious.
When he saw Emma, his eyes filled with relief.
"You came."
"Tell me who killed my father."
Adrian looked away.
"I don't know."
"Don't lie."
"I don't."
Emma took his hand.
"I need the truth."
Adrian swallowed.
Then whispered:
"Victor."
"Your father?"
"He ordered everything."
Emma stared.
"What about Vivian?"
"She was working for him."
"Sarah?"
"She tried to stop him."
"Then why did you warn me not to trust her?"
"Because Sarah has her own agenda."
Emma's stomach tightened.
"What agenda?"
Adrian looked toward the door.
"She wants Project Eden."
"Why?"
"Because she believes controlling it is the only way to destroy it."
Emma shook her head.
"That's insane."
"It is."
Adrian pulled a small envelope from beneath his pillow.
"I took the diamond from your ring because I knew someone was tracking it."
Emma opened the envelope.
Inside was the diamond.
Under it was another message from her mother.
Do not trust anyone who says they want to save you.
Emma looked up.
Adrian's face had changed.
He was afraid.
"Emma."
"What?"
"There's something else."
"What?"
"Victor isn't dead."
Emma froze.
"Your father?"
"He faked his death six months ago."
Her blood ran cold.
"Then who was buried?"
Adrian shook his head.
"I don't know."
A noise came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Adrian looked toward the door.
"He's here."
The handle began to turn.
Emma stepped backward.
The door opened.
A man walked in.
Gray hair.
Expensive suit.
Cold eyes.
Victor Blake.
May you like
He smiled.
"Hello, Emma."
