Chapter 9 - What the Recorder Said

"I told Claire about the recording," Vanessa said.

The room went silent except for the fire.

Margaret's jaw tightened. "My daughter is confused. She's been under tremendous stress."

"I'm not confused," Vanessa answered. Her voice quivered, but she kept talking. "Elaine gave me a copy. I put the memory card in the ornament because I couldn't bear to watch Sophie get pulled into this."

"You coward," Margaret whispered.

"Maybe," Vanessa said. "But I'm done."

Officer Ramirez raised a hand. "One person at a time. What recording?"

I asked permission to play it. He agreed, cautioning everyone not to handle the device further if it might be evidence. I placed it on the low table and pressed play.

Margaret's recorded voice was unmistakable: "Once Claire signs, we can make the girl say whatever we need."

Another voice, Daniel's, answered, "Sophie won't lie about her mother."

"Then you haven't been a persuasive father," Margaret said.

The recording crackled, then Elaine spoke: "This is wrong. You can't manufacture a custody complaint to cover the missing money."

"You signed the books," Margaret replied. "Keep talking and I'll make sure the police look at you first."

The file ended. Nobody moved.

Daniel pressed his palms against his eyes. "I told her I wouldn't do it," he said.

"You stayed anyway," I answered.

Ramirez asked where the file came from. I explained the ornament, the storage unit, the backup copies, and the threatening messages. He took notes while Bell reassured Sophie that asking for help was not a crime.

Margaret pointed at me. "Those recordings have been edited. She is blackmailing us."

"That's something investigators can examine," Ramirez said. "It doesn't change the custody paperwork I'm looking at."

Sophie tugged my sleeve. "Mommy, can I show my letter now?"

I opened the red box. The envelope sat beneath the recorder, creased from being folded twice.

Across it Sophie had written in careful block letters: TO GRANDMA. PLEASE READ ALONE.

But Margaret had seen it, too.

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