“What happened?”
He handed her the device.
The security footage Marcus had sent was paused.
Rebecca pressed play.
The video had no sound.
It did not need sound.
The timestamp read 6:41 p.m.
Emily appeared at the upper landing.
Claire stood behind her.
The child turned.
The two seemed to be arguing.
Emily tried to walk away.
Claire caught her arm.
Emily pulled back.
Claire released her.
Then, several seconds later, Emily began descending.
Claire followed.
Near the seventh step from the upper landing, Emily turned toward her.
Claire reached forward.
Her hand made contact with Emily’s back.
Emily fell.
Rebecca covered her mouth.
The child rolled down several stairs before stopping against the railing.
Claire remained standing above her.
She did not rush down immediately.
She simply stared.
For six seconds.
Six full seconds.
Then the front-door sensor must have activated.
Claire’s head snapped toward the entrance.
She hurried down two steps.
That was when Daniel entered the foyer.
Rebecca stopped the video.
“Oh my God.”
Daniel said nothing.
“Daniel.”
“She pushed her.”
“Yes.”
“She stood there.”
Rebecca stared at him.
“She stood there and watched.”
Daniel leaned both hands against the counter.
His shoulders trembled.
Rebecca had seen her brother angry many times.
She had never seen him like this.
“I left Emily with her.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I married her.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I brought her into my daughter’s home.”
“Daniel.”
“I gave her authority over Emily.”
Rebecca moved closer.
“Stop.”
Daniel looked at her.
“You cannot make tonight about punishing yourself. Emily needs you thinking clearly.”
He knew she was right.
That did not reduce the guilt.
His phone vibrated.
Claire again.
This time, a message appeared.
I know you’re with Rebecca. We need to talk before you make a mistake that destroys this family.
Daniel stared at the words.
Rebecca read them over his shoulder.
“She knows where you are?”
“Probably guessed.”
Daniel typed his first response of the night.
Emily is safe. Do not contact her.
Three dots appeared immediately.
Daniel, please come home.
He did not respond.
Another message arrived.
You did not see what happened before she fell.
Daniel looked at Rebecca.
Rebecca shook her head.
“She’s already building a story.”
Daniel placed the phone facedown.
“I’m calling the police.”
Detective Aaron Cole arrived at Rebecca’s house shortly after midnight with a uniformed officer.
Daniel knew him slightly.
They had attended two city charity events together.
Tonight there was no social familiarity.
Cole was professional.
He watched the footage twice.
Then he asked Daniel to send the file through the department’s evidence system while officers arranged preservation of the original recording.
“Your daughter already made a statement at the hospital?”
“Yes.”
“We’ll coordinate through the child advocacy center. We don’t want multiple adults repeatedly questioning her.”
Daniel nodded.
“What happens to Claire?”