Chapter 3 - THE MAN WHO KNEW THE SECRET
David stared across the cemetery.
The man standing there was someone he never expected to see.
Thomas Reed.
Claire’s brother.
David slowly stood.
“Thomas?”
The man didn’t answer.
He just looked at Blair.
That was enough.
David stepped in front of his daughter.
“Why are you here?”
Thomas smiled slightly.
“You always were protective.”
“Stay away from my daughter.”
Martha moved closer.
“Do you know what’s inside that crate?”
Thomas looked at her.
“You should have stayed out of things that don’t concern you.”
David’s jaw tightened.
“Is that a threat?”
“No.”
Thomas looked toward the shed.
“It’s advice.”
Blair grabbed her father’s hand.
“Daddy, I don’t like him.”
David looked down.
“It’s okay, sweetheart.”
But it wasn’t.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Police were called.
The cemetery was closed temporarily.
And when officers searched the shed, they discovered something nobody expected.
The crate was empty.
David stared.
“What?”
Martha looked confused.
“But I recorded it.”
The officer checked the video.
Then his face changed.
“Mr. Harper…”
“What?”
“The video file was edited.”
David looked shocked.
“Edited?”
“Yes.”
Martha shook her head.
“No. I recorded everything.”
The officer turned the phone around.
A missing section appeared.
Someone had removed exactly forty-seven seconds.
Forty-seven seconds that showed what was inside the crate.
David looked at Claire.
She stood near the police car.
Crying.
“I told you, David. I don’t know what this is.”
David looked at her.
For the first time in their marriage…
he didn’t recognize her.
Then Blair whispered:
“Daddy…”
He looked down.
“What is it?”
She pointed at Claire.
“She wasn’t crying when nobody was watching.”
David froze.
“What?”
Blair swallowed.
“She smiled.”
Everyone became silent.
May you like
Because if Blair was telling the truth…
Claire had been pretending.
