Chapter 7 - THE RECORDING
Daniel left without another word.
Emma locked the door behind him.
Then she noticed something.
A tiny red light blinked beneath the television.
A recording device.
She called Sarah immediately.
Sarah arrived within the hour.
They removed it carefully.
"How long has this been here?"
"At least a few days."
Sarah connected it to her laptop.
Hours of audio appeared.
Emma heard conversations.
Daniel talking.
Victoria talking.
Richard Mercer talking.
Then she heard her own voice.
A recording from the apartment.
Her stomach turned.
Sarah stopped the playback.
"This is illegal surveillance."
"Can we use it?"
"If law enforcement gets involved, possibly."
Emma looked at the files.
"There may be more."
They searched the device.
One recording contained Daniel and Victoria arguing.
"You promised she would take the blame," Victoria said.
Daniel answered, "I changed my mind."
"You don't get to change your mind."
"I love her."
Victoria laughed.
"You don't love her. You need her."
Daniel's voice became angry.
"Leave her alone."
"Then give me the account access."
"No."
"Your father will destroy you."
Silence.
Then Daniel whispered.
"My father already destroyed everything."
Emma closed her eyes.
Another recording began.
Richard Mercer spoke.
"You think you can walk away?"
Daniel answered.
"I'm done."
"You belong to this family."
"I don't."
"You will do what I tell you."
A loud crash followed.
The recording ended.
Emma looked at Sarah.
"He was trying to leave."
"Maybe."
"Maybe?"
Sarah remained cautious.
"People can be victims and perpetrators at the same time."
Emma knew she was right.
But the recordings changed something.
Daniel had been trapped.
That didn't excuse what happened to Margaret.
It didn't erase his lies.
But it meant there was another layer to the story.
Sarah copied everything.
"Tomorrow we take this to federal investigators."
Emma nodded.
Then her phone rang.
Daniel.
She almost ignored it.
But something made her answer.
"Emma."
His voice sounded exhausted.
"I found something."
"What?"
"Proof my father ordered the attack on your father."
Emma went still.
"Where?"
"I have the original file."
"Why are you telling me?"
"Because I know what my father is planning."
"What?"
May you like
Daniel whispered.
"He's coming for your mother."
