Chapter 2 - THE SECRET INSIDE THE RECORDING
The courtroom didn't feel like a courtroom anymore.
It felt like the center of a storm.
Robert Hayes adjusted his suit and forced a smile.
"Your Honor, this is clearly a manipulated recording."
But his voice wasn't as confident as before.
The judge stared at him.
"Are you claiming the voice isn't yours?"
Robert hesitated.
Only for a second.
But everyone noticed.
"I am saying we need proper verification."
Emily watched him carefully.
She wasn't looking at him like an eight-year-old child.
She was looking at him like someone who had discovered a betrayal.
Margaret noticed.
"Emily..."
The little girl turned.
"Did your father tell you to keep this?"
Emily nodded.
"He told me if anything happened, I should give it to someone who would listen."
Margaret's heart broke.
Because Daniel had known.
He knew something was wrong.
And he had tried to protect his daughter.
The prosecutor approached Emily carefully.
"Emily, where did you find this recorder?"
"In Daddy's office."
"When?"
"The night before he died."
The courtroom went quiet again.
The prosecutor looked surprised.
"Why didn't you give it to police?"
Emily lowered her eyes.
"Because I was scared."
"Scared of what?"
Emily looked toward Robert.
"Of him."
Everyone turned.
Robert's expression changed.
"I have never threatened this child."
Emily shook her head.
"You didn't have to."
Her voice became smaller.
"You threatened Daddy."
Margaret felt a chill.
The judge ordered a break.
But before anyone could leave, Robert walked quickly toward the exit.
A detective stopped him.
"Mr. Hayes, please remain available."
Robert smiled.
"Of course."
But everyone saw it.
The panic behind his eyes.
Later that afternoon, Margaret sat with Emily in a private room.
The little girl held a cup of hot chocolate with both hands.
"I should have listened to Daddy."
Margaret looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
Emily looked down.
"Daddy tried to tell me something."
"What?"
"He said some people smile when they're lying."
Margaret felt tears forming.
"Your father loved you."
Emily nodded.
"I know."
Then she reached into her backpack.
"There was something else."
Margaret froze.
"What?"
Emily pulled out a small envelope.
"I found this under Daddy's desk."
Margaret opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
Daniel standing beside Robert Hayes.
But behind them...
Was someone else.
Someone Margaret recognized.
Someone she never expected.
Her own employer.
The person who hired her.
The person who had supported her after Daniel's death.
Margaret whispered:
"No..."
Emily looked worried.
"Who is that?"
Margaret stared at the picture.
Because the person standing behind Daniel wasn't a stranger.
It was someone who had been pretending to help them all along.
And suddenly Margaret understood.
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The murder wasn't about Daniel.
It was about something Daniel discovered before he died.
