Chapter 7 - The Encrypted File
The smart-home screen flashed white before displaying a single folder labeled with David’s full name and a high-security encryption seal.
“Don't open it,” Detective Miller warned, stepping up beside David and reaching out to stop his finger from tapping the glass. “It could be a localized trojan horse designed to wipe your home network.”
“I don't care about the network, Detective,” David said grimly, bypassing her hand and pressing the screen to force the download.
The progress bar crawled slowly across the display, each percentage point ticking upward with agonizing slowness in the silent, darkened room.
Clara sat on the edge of the sofa, gently rocking Lily back and forth to keep the little girl calm while keeping her eyes locked on the glowing panel.
“File transfer complete,” a synthesized voice announced from the smart-home speakers, echoing softly through the tense living room.
A list of scanned documents appeared on the screen, detailing corporate wire transfers, offshore bank accounts, and legal property deeds.
David scanned the top document, his eyes widening in absolute disbelief as he read the name listed alongside Elena’s on the offshore corporate account.
“Marcus Vance,” David whispered, the name rolling off his tongue with a sickening realization that made his stomach churn violently.
Clara gasped aloud, stumbling backward off the sofa and landing hard on the Persian rug as if she had been physically struck.
“No... that’s impossible,” Clara choked out, tears instantly welling in her eyes as she stared in horror at the smart-home screen.
“Do you know a Marcus Vance, Ms. Vance?” Detective Miller asked sharply, her hand resting casually near the grip of her holstered firearm.
“He’s... he’s my brother,” Clara sobbed, burying her face in her hands as the terrible implications crashed down around her like a tidal wave.
David turned to look at Clara, betrayal flashing across his tired features. “Your brother? The man who delivered groceries? The intruder?”
“I didn't know! I swear I didn't know he was involved with Elena!” Clara cried hysterically, curling into a tight ball on the floor.
“People don't just accidentally coordinate corporate embezzlement and child abuse plots, Ms. Vance,” Miller stated coldly, pulling out her handcuffs.
“Wait!” David shouted, stepping between the detective and the sobbing maid. “Look at the transaction dates on the screen, Detective.”
Miller paused, squinting at the glowing financial ledger displayed on the wall panel while holding her steel cuffs ready.
“Look closely,” David urged, pointing a shaking finger at the metadata timestamps. “These transfers started three years ago. Clara only started working here six months ago.”
Miller processed the dates silently, her professional skepticism warring with the verifiable digital timeline stamped onto the corporate records.
“That means,” Miller murmured slowly, “she wasn't planted in your house to start the scheme... she was planted here to take the fall for it.”
Before anyone could digest this terrifying revelation, the front security gate outside let out a long, automated buzz indicating a visitor had arrived.
David watched the driveway camera feed on the wall panel, seeing a sleek black sedan pull up and park directly in front of their double garage doors.
A tall man in an expensive gray suit stepped out of the vehicle, walking calmly toward the front porch with a briefcase in his hand.
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“That’s Elena’s defense attorney,” David said, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper as the doorbell chimed through the house.
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