Chapter 3 - The Hallway Video

The security clip was thirty-eight seconds long.

It showed the upstairs hallway of Sarah and Mark's home three nights earlier.

Vanessa came out of the guest room at 1:14 a.m.

She was barefoot.

Mark came out behind her.

He kissed her.

Sarah watched without blinking.

Daniel took the phone away first.

"Who sent this?"

A message appeared from an unknown number.

ASK HIM ABOUT THE RED KEY.

Sarah felt the room tilt.

Mark stepped backward.

"This is insane."

"Is it fake?" Sarah asked.

He said nothing.

"Is. It. Fake?"

Vanessa appeared in the doorway behind him, holding an ice pack to her cheek.

"Maybe you should stop pretending your marriage was perfect."

Sarah turned.

Vanessa smiled, but it was weaker now.

"He was going to tell you."

"When? After dessert?"

Mark rubbed his face. "Sarah, not in front of Lily."

"You brought your girlfriend to our daughter's birthday. You let her put her hands on Lily. You don't get to lecture me about what's appropriate in front of Lily."

Lily gripped Daniel's hand.

Sarah took a breath and lowered her voice.

"Daniel, take Lily to Mom's."

"Mommy, are you coming?"

"Soon, sweetheart. I promise."

When Lily was gone, Sarah turned back to Mark.

"The red key."

His shoulders stiffened.

That was enough.

Sarah knew every key in their house. Brass front door key. Silver mailbox key. Small black key for the wine cabinet.

No red key.

"What does it open?"

"Nothing you need to worry about."

Sarah walked past him.

"Then you won't mind if I find it."

Mark caught her arm.

Daniel's voice came from the hall. He had returned after giving Lily to their mother.

"Take your hand off her."

Mark released Sarah.

She went upstairs to his office.

Locked.

That was new.

She stared at the keypad beneath the handle.

Vanessa called up from downstairs.

"You can search all night. You won't find what you're looking for."

Sarah turned toward the staircase.

"Then why do you look scared?"

Vanessa's face hardened.

Behind Sarah, the office door clicked.

The lock had opened by itself.

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And a man's voice came through the speaker on Mark's desk.

"Mrs. Bennett? If you can hear me, do not let your husband touch the red ledger."