Chapter 9: The Last Recording
I didn’t accuse Daniel immediately.
That surprised even me.
Months ago, I would have trusted him.
Months ago, I trusted everyone.
Now I understood something.
The most dangerous lies were the ones wrapped in kindness.
“Daniel,” I said.
His eyes met mine.
“Where is the last video?””
He went still.
“What?””
“Eric said you deleted it.””
“That’s not true.””
“Then show me.””
He didn’t answer.
Maya looked between us.
“Uncle Daniel?””
That word affected him.
He closed his eyes.
“I didn’t delete it.””
“Then what did you do?””
“I hid it.””
My heart sank.
“Why?””
“Because it would destroy someone.””
“Who?””
Daniel looked at me.
“You.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Me?””
“The video wasn’t about Eric.””
“Then what was it about?””
Daniel sat down.
“The night of the accident.””
I felt cold.
“What about it?””
“Eric wasn’t driving alone.””
The room stopped.
“What?””
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“I kept a copy.””
I stared.
“You lied to me.””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because I was afraid.””
He played the video.
The image was blurry.
A parking lot.
Eric.
Another person.
A woman.
I leaned closer.
Then I saw her face.
My blood froze.
“No.””
Maya whispered:
“Mom?””
I couldn’t speak.
Because the woman in the video was someone I knew.
Someone I had trusted.
Someone who had cried with me after Eric’s supposed death.
Someone who had helped me survive.
My best friend.
Laura.
The video showed Eric arguing with her.
Then Laura said:
“You promised she would never find out.””
Eric answered:
“She won’t.””
I covered my mouth.
Daniel paused the video.
“She was involved.””
“But why?””
Daniel looked at me.
“Because Eric wasn’t the only person with secrets.””
My phone buzzed.
A message.
From Laura.
*We need to talk. Alone.*
I showed Daniel.
His face changed.
“Don’t go.””
“I need answers.””
“It’s a trap.””
“Maybe.””
I looked at Maya.
“But I’m done hiding.””
That evening, I met Laura at a quiet café.
She looked older.
Tired.
Broken.
When she saw me, she started crying.
“I knew this day would come.””
“Tell me the truth.””
She nodded.
“I was the one who helped Eric disappear.””
The words hurt.
“Why?””
“Because he threatened me.””
“With what?””
She looked down.
“He had evidence.””
“Of what?””
Laura took a breath.
“Of the night you and I fought.””
I frowned.
“What?””
She swallowed.
“Renee… you don’t remember everything from that night.””
The room felt colder.
“What are you saying?””
She reached into her bag.
Pulled out a photo.
And placed it on the table.
It showed me.
Standing beside Eric’s car.
The night he disappeared.
But there was something wrong.
Something impossible.
Because I remembered being asleep.
I remembered nothing.
Laura whispered:
“You weren’t asleep.””
My hands shook.
“You were there.””
I stared at the photograph.
May you like
Then she said the words that destroyed my final memory.
“You were the last person to see Eric alive.””
