Lily Pointed at the Kitchen Camera While Her Mother Explained — Then Michael Watched What Happened Before He Came Home
Chapter 2 — Twenty-Seven Minutes Earlier
Michael opened the security application.
He selected the kitchen camera.
Then moved the timeline backward.
3:51 PM.
The kitchen was empty.
At 3:53, Lily entered carrying her purple school backpack.
She placed it beside the table.
Then she removed something from the front pocket.
A white envelope.
Michael frowned.
“What’s that?”
Lily remained pressed against his side.
Claire looked away.
On the recording, Lily opened the envelope.
She removed several photographs.
Then a handwritten letter.
She began reading.
Less than a minute later, Claire walked into the kitchen.
She noticed the envelope immediately.
Her entire expression changed.
“Where did you get that?” Claire demanded on the recording.
Lily looked frightened.
“It was in my backpack.”
Claire rushed toward her.
“Give it to me.”
Lily pulled the envelope against her chest.
“Why?”
“Because it isn’t yours.”
“It has my name on it.”
Michael paused the recording.
Then looked at Claire.
“Who sent her a letter?”
Claire folded her arms.
“Keep watching.”
Michael did.
On-screen, Claire reached for the envelope.
Lily backed away.
“Dad should see it.”
Claire stopped.
“No.”
Lily stared at her.
“Why?”
Claire lowered her voice.
“Because your father doesn’t need to know about this.”
Michael’s hand tightened around the phone.
Lily began crying.
The recording continued.
Then Lily said one name.
A name Michael had not heard inside his house in almost eight years.
“Grandma Evelyn sent it.”
