Chapter 7 - Aunt June's Phone
Aunt June insisted on meeting at a bakery across town. She wore a green raincoat and had taped a note over her phone's camera.
āRobert's people look through everything,ā she said, lifting the tape. āMakes me feel better.ā
āHe threatened you?ā I asked.
āHe told me the family would remember who stood with him.ā
āAnd?ā
āI've spent sixty-eight years being remembered as the easy sister.ā She pushed her coffee aside. āI'm done.ā
Her dinner video was longer than the version she'd played for the police. Before Robert threw the belt, she had recorded him moving the family photograph. A small camera peeked from behind it, already aimed at my seat.
āWhy hide one if everyone is filming?ā Priya asked.
āTo get the angle he can control,ā I said.
June nodded. āThere are two security cameras in that dining room. Robert installed them after a jewelry theft that never happened.ā
āCan you get the files?ā
āI won't break into his house. But I bought the system. The monthly cloud account is still in my name.ā
Priya leaned forward. āPlease don't alter anything. We can arrange an authorized export and document how it's obtained.ā
June looked relieved to be given something useful and lawful to do.
When we stood to leave, she caught my sleeve.
āThere's something else. The night before dinner, I heard Robert and David arguing in the study.ā
āAbout me?ā
āAbout a list. David said those women were supposed to be protected. Robert said protection was an expense they couldn't afford.ā
I felt the bakery floor tilt.
May you like
June pulled a folded receipt from her purse. On the back was a date, an invoice number, and three words she'd heard Robert say.
**Clear Juniper by Friday.**
