Chapter 8: The Man in Anna’s Last Video
I stared at the screen.
I couldn’t breathe.
The man standing behind Anna looked exactly like me.
Same height.
Same jacket.
Same face.
But impossible.
“That’s not me.””
My voice sounded distant.
Detective Reed didn’t respond.
Sarah looked between the screen and me.
“Daniel…”
“That’s not me.””
I said it louder.
Because if I stopped saying it, even for one second, I was afraid I might believe it.
Detective Reed paused the video.
“Let’s not jump to conclusions.””
“You think that’s me?””
“No.””
His answer came quickly.
“But someone wants you to think it is.””
I looked at the frozen image.
Anna standing in the kitchen.
The shadow behind her.
A man wearing my jacket.
My jacket.
The same jacket Evelyn had removed the injector from.
The same jacket she had used to make people believe I was careless.
Sarah stepped closer.
“My mother planned this.””
I looked at her.
“How?””
She swallowed.
“She knew your routines.””
My stomach tightened.
“She knew what I wore. Where I kept things. When you were home.””
Detective Reed nodded.
“She was building a pattern.””
I looked back at the screen.
A fake Daniel.
A fake story.
A fake truth.
Everything was starting to make sense.
“What happened after this recording?””
Detective Reed restarted the video.
Anna looked over her shoulder.
“Daniel?””
The fake version of me stepped closer.
But then something happened.
The camera angle shifted.
The person behind Anna moved into the light.
And I saw it.
Not me.
A mask.
A realistic face covering.
My stomach turned.
The person pulled it off.
And beneath it was—
Michael.
Sarah gasped.
“No.””
The video continued.
Michael looked at Anna.
“I’m sorry.””
Anna backed away.
“You don’t understand what you’re doing.””
Michael’s voice shook.
“I’m trying to protect my family.””
Anna shook her head.
“You’re protecting her.””
Silence.
Then Evelyn’s voice came from behind the camera.
“Michael.””
The camera turned.
Evelyn stepped into view.
Calm.
Controlled.
Like she wasn’t destroying her own family.
Anna looked at her.
“Mom.””
Evelyn smiled sadly.
“You always were too stubborn.””
I felt my hands shaking.
Detective Reed stopped the video.
Michael.
Not Evelyn.
Michael had been there.
Michael had worn my face.
The man who claimed he was afraid of Evelyn had helped her.
Sarah sat down.
“My brother…”
Her voice broke.
“I didn’t know.””
I looked at her.
“You knew enough.””
She nodded.
“I know.””
Detective Reed continued searching the files.
“There’s more.””
I almost laughed.
“Of course there is.””
He opened another document.
A contract.
My name appeared at the top.
I leaned closer.
“What is that?””
Detective Reed read silently.
Then his expression changed.
“It’s a guardianship agreement.””
My stomach tightened.
“For Lily?””
He nodded.
“But Daniel…”
He turned the laptop toward me.
“This was signed two weeks before Anna died.””
I stared.
Impossible.
My signature was on it.
My handwriting.
Everything looked real.
The agreement stated that if I was deemed “unfit,” custody would transfer to Evelyn.
I felt dizzy.
“I never signed this.””
Detective Reed nodded.
“I know.””
Sarah looked at the document.
“My mother forged it.””
“But why?””
Detective Reed pointed at the date.
“Because she was preparing before Anna died.””
The room went silent.
This wasn’t a reaction.
It was a plan.
A plan that started years ago.
Then my phone rang.
I looked at the screen.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
At first, nobody spoke.
Then I heard breathing.
A woman’s voice.
“Daniel.””
My blood froze.
Evelyn.
“How did you get this number?””
She ignored the question.
“You found the files.””
I looked at Detective Reed.
“How are you calling me?””
A pause.
Then she whispered:
“Because you need to know the truth before they arrest the wrong person.””
I stood.
“What are you talking about?””
Her voice became softer.
Almost afraid.
“Michael wasn’t the one who caused Anna’s accident.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“Your brother-in-law was helping me.””
The room went silent.
“But he didn’t kill Anna.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Then who did?””
A long pause.
Then Evelyn said:
“The person Anna trusted most.””
I felt a chill.
“Who?””
Her voice dropped.
“Daniel…”
The call crackled.
Then she said the words that made my blood run cold.
“Anna was afraid of you.””
The line went dead.
I stared at the phone.
Detective Reed watched me.
“What did she say?””
I couldn’t answer.
Because suddenly I had a new question.
One I never wanted to ask.
If Anna had made a video accusing Evelyn…
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If she had hidden evidence against Michael…
Why did Evelyn sound so certain that the real danger was me?
