Chapter 7 - THE CAMERA IN THE BIRDHOUSE
Andrew ran toward the rear terrace.
Elizabeth grabbed his arm.
“They have a gun.”
“I’m not chasing them.”
He looked at Alex.
“Show me.”
The boy led them through the kitchen.
Rain hammered the windows.
Lightning flashed across the backyard.
Alex stopped by the mudroom.
“I need shoes.”
Andrew stared at his son.
For the first time in months, there was something other than fear in his voice.
Urgency.
Purpose.
Andrew knelt and helped him into boots.
Then the three of them ran into the storm.
The garden was soaked.
Wind bent the trees.
Alex pointed toward an old wooden birdhouse near the stone staircase where Caroline had died.
“There.”
Andrew pulled it down.
Inside was a small security camera.
Elizabeth stared.
“Why would Caroline put this here?”
Alex answered.
“She said she wanted to catch the fox.”
Andrew knew that was a lie Caroline had told their son.
Maybe she had suspected Lucinda long before the confrontation.
They rushed back inside.
Andrew removed the memory card.
His laptop took forever to start.
Alex sat beside him.
Elizabeth stood guard by the door.
Finally, the video files appeared.
Andrew clicked the date of Caroline’s death.
The screen showed the dark garden.
Rain.
Wind.
The terrace.
Then Caroline appeared.
She came down the stairs.
Lucinda followed.
Even without sound, the argument was obvious.
Caroline pointed toward the house.
Lucinda grabbed her arm.
Caroline pulled away.
Lucinda grabbed again.
Then Caroline reached for Lucinda’s hair.
The green ribbon came loose.
It fell.
Caroline caught it.
Then David stepped into frame.
Andrew stopped breathing.
Elizabeth whispered, “Oh my God.”
David had been there.
Caroline turned toward him.
He blocked the stairs.
Lucinda moved closer.
Caroline was trapped between them.
The video showed David pointing toward the garden gate.
Then Caroline shook her head.
Lucinda shoved her.
Not hard enough to kill her.
Caroline stumbled.
Caught the railing.
Recovered.
Andrew stared.
“She didn’t fall.”
Alex whispered, “Keep watching.”
David grabbed Caroline.
Caroline fought.
Lucinda looked toward the house.
Then David hit Caroline.
Once.
Hard.
She collapsed.
Andrew’s chair scraped backward.
“No.”
David dragged Caroline toward the stairs.
Lucinda stood frozen.
Then she helped him.
Together, they lifted Caroline.
And threw her body down the stone steps.
Andrew covered his mouth.
Alex began crying.
Elizabeth pulled him close.
The video continued.
David walked down.
He checked Caroline’s pulse.
Then looked up.
Lucinda followed.
Caroline moved.
She was still alive.
Andrew whispered, “No…”
David bent over her.
Then Lucinda took something from her pocket.
A small bottle.
Elizabeth said, “What is that?”
On the screen, Lucinda poured something into Caroline’s mouth.
David forced her jaw closed.
Caroline stopped moving.
Andrew stared at the screen.
Then headlights appeared through the office window.
A car had returned.
May you like
Elizabeth whispered, “They came back.”
And someone began pounding on the front door.
