Chapter 3: The Memory Card
Victor stared at the stuffed bear in Noah's arms.
For three years, that bear had gone everywhere with him.
Breakfast.
Car rides.
Doctor appointments.
Even business trips when Victor brought Noah along.
Now there was something hidden inside it that might explain exactly what had been happening in his home.
“Grace,” Victor said into the phone, “stay with Daniel.””
“Mr. Blackwood—”
“Do not speak to Serena. Do not let Serena speak to you.””
Grace's breathing quickened.
“She'll know.””
“Know what?””
“That I recorded her.””
Victor looked at Noah.
“How?””
“I think she found the camera this morning.””
Victor's stomach tightened.
“Then why would the memory card still be here?””
“Because I removed it last night.””
Grace lowered her voice.
“I knew she was getting suspicious. I put a blank card in the camera and hid the real one in Noah's bear.””
Victor rubbed a hand over his jaw.
“How long have you suspected her?””
Grace didn't answer immediately.
“Three weeks.””
“Three weeks?””
“I tried to tell you.””
Victor froze.
“When?””
“Last Thursday.””
He remembered.
Grace had approached him outside the breakfast room.
“Mr. Blackwood, can I speak to you privately?””
He had been late for a meeting.
Serena had appeared behind her and smiled.
“Victor, your car is waiting.””
Victor had told Grace, “Tonight.””
That night, he'd returned after midnight.
He had forgotten.
The memory landed like a stone in his chest.
“I'm sorry,” he said.
Grace's voice softened.
“Just protect Noah.””
“I will.””
Victor ended the call.
Dr. Grant had stepped outside to give them privacy.
Noah sat beneath the white hospital blanket, his injured arm secured, the bear tucked beneath his chin.
Victor sat beside him.
“Buddy, can Daddy borrow Mr. Buttons?””
Noah immediately hugged the bear tighter.
“Why?””
“Grace put something important inside him.””
Noah's eyes widened.
“Is she coming back?””
“Yes.””
“You promise?””
Victor swallowed.
“I promise.””
Noah slowly handed him the bear.
Victor found the small seam Grace had described.
Inside was a tiny plastic case.
He opened it.
A memory card rested inside.
Victor stared at it.
Noah whispered, “Is that bad?””
“No.””
Victor closed his fingers around it.
“It might help me understand.””
A knock came at the door.
Daniel entered.
Victor's security chief was a former detective in his forties, a man who rarely looked shaken.
He looked shaken now.
“Grace is being examined downstairs,” Daniel said.
“And Serena?””
“At the mansion.””
“Keep her there.””
Daniel hesitated.
“There's something else.””
Victor stood.
Daniel held out a clear evidence bag.
Inside was a broken phone.
“Grace says this belonged to her.””
Victor examined the shattered screen.
“What happened?””
“She says Serena took it from her this morning and smashed it.””
“Why?””
“Because Grace tried to call you.””
Victor looked toward Noah.
Daniel followed his gaze.
“Sir, we should preserve everything properly.””
“Agreed.””
Victor handed him the memory card.
“Make two copies. Don't alter the original.””
Daniel nodded.
“And Daniel?””
“Yes?””
“I want every security recording from the mansion preserved. Interior, exterior, entrances, gates. Everything.””
“Already started.””
Victor almost smiled.
That was why Daniel worked for him.
Twenty minutes later, Daniel returned with a laptop.
“The card contains seventeen video files.””
Victor's expression hardened.
“Seventeen?””
“Grace apparently recorded portions of several days.””
“Show me.””
Daniel glanced at Noah.
“Not here.””
Victor understood immediately.
Dr. Grant arranged for a nurse to remain with Noah.
Victor kissed his son's forehead.
“I'll be right outside.””
“Daddy?””
Victor stopped.
“Don't bring Serena.””
“I won't.””
In an empty consultation room, Daniel opened the first file.
The date was twelve days earlier.
Noah sat on the playroom carpet building a wooden tower.
Serena entered.
At first, nothing happened.
Then Noah held up a block.
“Look, Serena!””
She ignored him.
“Serena?””
No response.
Noah tried again.
“Look!””
Serena suddenly kicked the tower apart.
Blocks scattered across the carpet.
Noah recoiled.
“Stop making noise.””
Victor's face became rigid.
Daniel clicked another file.
This one was worse.
Noah stood beside a shelf holding the photograph of Elise.
Serena snatched it away.
“No Mommy,” Noah protested.
Serena crouched in front of him.
“Listen carefully. Your mother is gone.””
Noah started crying.
“I want her.””
Serena grabbed his wrist.
“You have me now.””
Victor's chair scraped backward as he stood.
Daniel paused the video.
“Sir.””
“Play it.””
“Victor—”
“Play it.””
The recording continued.
Serena leaned close to Noah.
“And if you keep crying for her, your father will get tired of you too.””
Victor felt something inside him crack.
Noah whispered, “Daddy loves me.””
Serena smiled.
“Daddy loves his work.””
Victor couldn't move.
The sentence was cruel because it contained just enough truth to wound.
He had missed breakfasts.
Bedtimes.
School events.
He had believed providing everything meant protecting everything.
Daniel closed the laptop halfway.
“There are more.””
Victor stared at him.
“How many?””
“Enough that I think law enforcement needs to see them.””
“Then call them.””
Daniel nodded.
But before he could move, his phone rang.
He answered.
“Daniel.””
His expression changed.
“What do you mean she's gone?””
Victor stepped forward.
“Who?””
Daniel raised one hand.
“When?””
He listened.
Then slowly lowered the phone.
“Serena left the mansion.””
Victor's voice became dangerously quiet.
“You were supposed to keep her there.””
“She didn't use the front gate.””
“How?””
Daniel turned the laptop toward Victor.
A live security image showed the mansion's underground garage.
One parking space was empty.
“She took your late wife's car.””
Victor stared at the screen.
Elise's silver Mercedes.
A car Serena had never once been permitted to drive.
“Track it.””
“We're trying.””
Victor's phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
A photograph appeared.
Victor opened it.
His blood went cold.
It showed the Blackwood family cemetery.
Elise's grave was visible beneath the trees.
A second message arrived.
*You should have left the past buried.*
May you like
Then a third.
*Ask Grace what she did the night Elise died.*
