Chapter 6 - What Was in the Yellow Envelope
"Sophie," Sarah asked gently, "did Aunt Clara take your tablet?"
The little girl stopped coloring. "She said she'd give it back if I promised not to tell."
"Tell what?"
"I was making a birthday video in the study. She didn't know the camera was on."
Mark's stomach tightened. On the night of the party, Sophie had been filming interviews with guests for a school project. The tablet had vanished before dessert. They had assumed she had misplaced it.
Sarah sent the photograph to Detective Ben Ortiz, who had been assigned to Sophie's assault case. He agreed to pass it to the financial-crimes investigator working with Maya. He also requested the raw photograph from Mrs. Alvarez.
"Don't try to retrieve the tablet yourselves," he warned. "If someone has it, we'll pursue the proper records and warrants."
They checked Sophie's family cloud account. The most recent backup was from six that evening, half an hour before the slap. A short video began with Sophie whispering, "My grown-up interview is Aunt Clara."
On-screen, Clara's voice came from the other side of the study door.
"The transfer happens Monday," she said. "I don't care what the neighbors think."
A man answered, "Without the lane, the whole project dies."
Then Sophie's small voice interrupted: "Aunt Clara, why is my mommy's name on your papers?"
The video cut off.
Mark looked up. Monday was in three days.
Sarah touched the blank screen. "She didn't hit Sophie because she dropped a bowl. She hit her because our daughter caught her."
Detective Ortiz called back just as they finished watching.
"We've checked Pierce's vehicle," he said. "His work truck passed your house that night. There's something else."
"What?"
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"The man in Mrs. Alvarez's photograph wasn't a dinner guest. He entered your backyard through the gate at six twelve."
Sophie went still. "That's when Aunt Clara told me not to scream."
