Chapter 6 - The Doorbell Camera
Daniel removed the black flash drive from his briefcase.
Jason stared at it.
For one second, every trace of arrogance vanished.
Then he recovered.
“Digital files can be manipulated.”
Daniel nodded.
“That is why Lily made three copies.”
Emily looked toward him.
“Three?”
“One for me. One stored with a private security firm. One delivered to a third witness.”
Jason’s eyes darted toward the church doors.
No one entered.
Daniel continued.
“The drive contains financial records, photographs, voice recordings, and security footage from Lily’s home.”
“Our home,” Jason snapped.
Daniel gave him a cold look.
“Not anymore.”
Rachel pressed a hand against her stomach.
“What footage?”
Jason did not answer.
Daniel turned to the congregation.
“We will not play it here. This is a funeral, not a courtroom.”
Emily felt a flash of frustration.
Then Daniel looked at her.
“But I can describe what has already been authenticated.”
Jason’s voice rose.
“You have no right.”
“Lily gave me that right.”
Daniel opened a written inventory.
“Eleven forty-one p.m. Jason Reed enters the residence through the side door.”
Rachel’s face changed.
“You told me you were at the lake house.”
Jason looked at her.
“I was.”
Daniel continued.
“Eleven forty-eight p.m. Rachel Monroe’s vehicle enters the driveway.”
Every head turned toward Rachel.
She shook her head.
“No.”
Daniel read the next line.
“Eleven fifty-two p.m. Raised voices are captured by the exterior microphone.”
Rachel’s lips began trembling.
Jason moved toward her.
“Don’t say anything.”
Emily stepped into his path.
“Get away from her.”
He looked at Emily with contempt.
“You think she’s your ally now?”
“No,” Emily replied. “I think she’s scared of you.”
Rachel’s breathing quickened.
Daniel read from the inventory.
“Twelve oh-seven a.m. Rachel exits the house alone. Twelve ten a.m. Jason appears at the front door, looks toward the security camera, then reenters.”
Rachel covered her mouth.
“You said the camera was broken.”
Jason’s voice became low.
“Rachel.”
“You said there was no recording.”
Emily stared at her.
“You were there when Lily fell?”
Rachel looked toward the white casket.
Tears filled her eyes.
“I didn’t see her fall.”
Jason grabbed her wrist.
Daniel’s voice cracked through the sanctuary.
“Release her.”
Jason tightened his grip.
Thomas and two men from the front pew stood.
Jason let go.
Rachel rubbed her wrist.
Then she whispered the sentence that broke the room open.
May you like
“She was still alive when I left.”
👉 Rachel had spent three weeks protecting Jason—but now she had admitted Lily survived the fall.
