Chapter 3: The Recording in My Pocket
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Tiffany stood on the staircase wearing silk pajamas, her hair perfectly arranged despite the early hour.
Her eyes moved from Laura to Brandon, then settled on the folder.
"What is this?"" she asked.
Laura remained calm.
"Good morning, Tiffany.""
Tiffany slowly descended the stairs.
"Why are you in my house?""
Brandon looked uncomfortable.
"She's here because I asked her to come.""
Tiffany stopped.
"You did what?""
Brandon placed the garment bag on the sofa.
"I found some financial transfers connected to the company you've been using for our wedding expenses.""
Tiffany laughed.
"Oh, my God. You're seriously doing this now?""
"Doing what?""
"Questioning me like I'm some criminal.""
Laura opened her folder.
"Nobody has accused you of anything yet. We're trying to understand several transactions.""
Tiffany looked at me.
I recognized that expression.
It was the one she always used before turning herself into the victim.
"Ariana," she whispered.
"What did you tell them?""
I said nothing.
She turned to Brandon.
"She hates me. You know that, right?""
Brandon rubbed his forehead.
"I know you've said that.""
"Because it's true!""
Laura placed a document on the coffee table.
"This company received several transfers from accounts associated with Mr. Khalil's business.""
Tiffany folded her arms.
"My father gave me that money.""
"Did he?""
"Yes.""
"Then obtaining his written authorization should be simple.""
Tiffany's lips tightened.
Brandon looked at her.
"Tiffany, do you have it?""
She blinked.
"Of course.""
"Can you show us?""
"Not right now.""
"Why not?""
"Because I don't have to explain every little thing I do!""
Laura closed the folder.
"That's fine. We'll arrange another meeting.""
Tiffany suddenly grabbed Brandon's arm.
"You're not seriously believing them?""
He gently removed her hand.
"I just want answers.""
She looked wounded.
Then she turned toward me.
"This is what you've wanted all along, isn't it? To make everyone hate me?""
I took a slow breath.
"No, Tiffany. I wanted you to stop stealing.""
Her face changed.
Denise appeared from the hallway, wearing a robe.
"What is going on?""
Tiffany immediately rushed toward her.
"Mom!""
Denise wrapped both arms around her.
"They're attacking me!"" Tiffany cried.
Denise looked at Laura.
"Who are you?""
Laura introduced herself and explained the purpose of her visit.
Denise listened without interrupting.
Then she turned toward Brandon.
"Are you aware that Tiffany has been under enormous stress preparing this wedding?""
Brandon nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why would you bring a stranger into our home and interrogate her?""
"Because I found payments I couldn't explain.""
Denise stared at him.
"Perhaps because you don't understand how wedding planning works.""
Laura quietly closed her folder again.
"I think we've established that there are questions requiring documentation.""
She handed Brandon her card.
Then she left.
But before stepping outside, she looked at me.
"Miss Ariana, I would appreciate it if you contacted me privately.""
Tiffany watched her go.
The moment the door closed, she exploded.
"You have no idea what you've done!""
I stared at her.
"I didn't bring her here.""
"You called someone!""
"No.""
"You're lying!""
Denise stepped between us.
"Enough! This family has a wedding in three days. I will not allow you to destroy it.""
Brandon picked up his garment bag.
"I'm leaving.""
Tiffany turned.
"Brandon!""
"I need time.""
"You can't leave me now!""
He looked at her for a long moment.
"I need to know who I'm marrying.""
Then he walked out.
Tiffany stood frozen.
The front door closed.
And for the first time since I'd known her, she didn't cry.
She looked furious.
Denise turned toward me.
"Pack your things.""
I blinked.
"What?""
"You heard me. You're leaving today.""
"Denise, I live here.""
"This is my house.""
"Actually, Dad owns it.""
Her face tightened.
"Your father has allowed me to manage this household. You will respect that.""
I looked toward the stairs.
"My things are already packed.""
"Then take them.""
I went upstairs.
My suitcase was still beside my bed.
I picked up my phone and checked the recordings.
The files were backed up.
One recording in particular had been captured two nights earlier.
It was nearly twelve minutes long.
I had been sitting in the upstairs hallway when Tiffany and Denise began arguing in the kitchen.
I hadn't intended to record them.
But the conversation had become impossible to ignore.
I put in my earbuds and pressed play.
First came Denise's voice.
"How much longer are you going to keep doing this?""
Tiffany answered.
"Until I get what I need.""
"And Brandon?""
"He's temporary.""
"He's going to notice.""
"He won't. He's too busy pretending he's in love.""
Then came a sound.
A glass being placed on the counter.
Denise spoke again.
"What about Ariana?""
Tiffany laughed.
"She's already suspicious.""
"Then get rid of her.""
"That's the plan.""
I had stopped breathing when I first heard that sentence.
But the next part was worse.
Tiffany continued.
"Once Dad signs the papers, everything will be transferred. The house, the investment accounts, all of it.""
Denise asked, "And if he refuses?""
"He won't.""
"You're sure?""
"Mom, he thinks I'm his little girl. He'll sign anything if I cry.""
I paused the recording.
My hands were shaking.
Then I remembered the last sentence.
The one I hadn't fully understood until now.
Denise's voice had become unusually quiet.
"And what about the other one?""
Tiffany replied:
"Which one?""
"Don't play stupid. The girl before Ariana.""
I pressed play again.
Tiffany sighed.
"She's gone. Nobody knows where she is.""
Denise whispered something I couldn't quite hear.
Then Tiffany said:
"She should have kept her mouth shut.""
I removed my earbuds.
The room felt unbearably small.
The girl before Ariana.
Melissa.
But why had Denise asked about her as though she knew something more?
I copied the recording to another device.
Then I called Laura.
She answered almost immediately.
"Have you found something?""
"I have a recording.""
"Of what?""
"My stepmother and stepsister discussing financial transfers. But there's something else. They mention another girl.""
Laura became quiet.
"Can you send it to me?""
"I can.""
"Don't edit it. Don't delete anything. Keep the original file.""
I nodded, even though she couldn't see me.
Then I asked, "Do you know anything about a woman named Melissa?""
Laura paused.
"Melissa Grant?""
My heart jumped.
"Yes.""
"We've been trying to locate her.""
"Why?""
Laura lowered her voice.
"Because a complaint was filed against Tiffany nearly four years ago. The complainant disappeared before investigators could obtain a complete statement.""
I gripped the edge of my desk.
"Disappeared?""
"She left her apartment suddenly. Her family reported her missing, but she was later located in another state. She refused to cooperate with the investigation.""
I swallowed.
"Was she hurt?""
"We don't know.""
I looked down at my phone.
"There's another thing. My stepmother seems to know what happened to her.""
Laura was silent for a moment.
"Then I need you to preserve that recording.""
I agreed.
But before I could end the call, Laura added something.
"Miss Ariana, there's a detail you should know about the company receiving your father's money.""
"What?""
"It wasn't created by Tiffany.""
I frowned.
"Then who created it?""
Laura took a breath.
"Your stepmother, Denise.""
I stared at the wall.
That meant Denise wasn't merely covering for Tiffany.
She was part of the arrangement.
Possibly the person behind it.
I heard footsteps outside my bedroom.
The door opened.
Denise stood there.
She looked at my suitcase, then at my phone.
"Who were you talking to?""
"Nobody.""
She stepped inside and closed the door.
For a moment, she simply watched me.
Then she said something that made my skin crawl.
"You're beginning to sound exactly like Melissa.""
I froze.
Denise smiled faintly.
"She also thought she could save everyone by telling the truth.""
I slowly lowered my phone.
"What happened to Melissa?""
Denise walked toward the window.
"She learned that some people are better off being forgotten.""
My heart hammered against my ribs.
"Did you hurt her?""
Denise turned around.
Her expression was calm.
Almost bored.
"Be careful, Ariana. You have no idea how many people your father would lose if you played the wrong recording.""
Then she left.
I stood alone in the room, listening to her footsteps disappear down the hallway.
Three days remained until Tiffany's wedding.
And suddenly, I understood why she was so desperate to get me out of the house.
She wasn't afraid I would ruin her wedding.
She was afraid I would expose what had happened before it.
I looked at the recording on my phone.
Then I received a message from Laura.
*We found Melissa. She wants to speak with you.*
A second message arrived immediately afterward.
*But Ariana, there's something she insists you must know before you confront Denise.*
I typed back.
*What is it?*
The reply came less than ten seconds later.
*Melissa says Tiffany wasn't the person who attacked her.*
I stared at the screen.
May you like
Then another message appeared.
*It was Denise.*
