Chapter 7 - The Hallway Camera
The flash drive held one video.
Cindy’s building had installed a hallway security camera four years earlier after package thefts.
Cindy served on the condo board.
She had downloaded the clip herself.
February tenth.
5:52 a.m.
The morning Sally left.
The camera showed their apartment door.
Sally stepped into hallway.
One bag.
Pregnant? Not visibly yet.
Pale.
Garrett stood inside.
Angry.
Cindy beside him.
Sally held an envelope.
“Just read it.”
Garrett turned away.
Cindy took it.
“I’ll give it to him.”
Then Sally said:
“Garrett, I didn’t touch the money.”
Garrett’s recorded voice:
“What money?”
Cindy interrupted instantly.
“Don’t listen. She’s stalling.”
Garrett froze while watching.
What money?
He had not known the savings were gone yet.
Because they weren’t.
Cindy transferred them the next day.
Sally had discovered something missing before total theft, perhaps smaller movements.
Then Sally:
“There are transfers to your mother.”
Cindy:
“You have ten seconds to leave my property.”
Garrett:
“Mom.”
Cindy:
“Garrett, choose.”
Sally looked at him.
Not pleading.
Waiting.
Garrett said nothing.
Then Cindy opened door wider.
Sally left.
Before elevator closed, she said:
“I’m pregnant.”
Garrett:
“Sally.”
Cindy grabbed his arm.
“She’s lying.”
Then the elevator doors closed.
The video continued.
Garrett walked back inside.
Cindy remained in hallway.
She looked toward elevator.
Then pulled Sally’s envelope from her pocket.
Opened it.
Read.
Her face changed.
She knew immediately.
Pregnancy proof.
Lawyer explanation.
Financial concern.
Then she folded it.
Walked inside.
Video ended.
Garrett sat in his truck watching again.
And again.
Cindy had saved the footage.
Why?
Insurance?
Power?
Maybe she wanted proof Sally “left voluntarily.”
But the same video proved Cindy knew the truth before transfer.
Then Garrett called Sally.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
He sent:
I found the hallway video.
Five minutes later:
Do not come here.
Then:
I won’t.
Another:
I am sorry.
No response.
Fair.
Then he called Leland.
“I need to know what I can do.”
Leland said:
“Start with telling the truth to the people who asked you four years ago.”
The bank.
The court.
Perhaps police.
Garrett had told investigators Cindy had permission to manage finances.
Now he needed to clarify:
She had permission to pay bills.
Not transfer $420,000 to herself.
Would that reopen anything?
Possibly civil claims.
Maybe criminal depending limitation and evidence.
Leland refused to represent Garrett due conflict.
He referred him elsewhere.
Good.
Then Garrett hired attorney Marcus Bell.
First independent attorney he had ever hired.
Marcus reviewed.
“Did you authorize the transfer?”
“No.”
“Did you know before?”
“No.”
“Did your mother have passwords?”
“Yes.”
“Did you previously tell the bank she had authority?”
“I said she handled finances.”
“That hurt.”
“I know.”
“Can this video show she knew Sally accused her before transfer?”
“Yes.”
“Can the pregnancy letter show motive to isolate Sally?”
Possibly.
Then Garrett asked:
“Can Sally get the money back?”
Marcus answered:
“Not magically.”
Cindy spent much.
Assets remain.
Civil tracing possible.
The preschool.
Condo equity.
Accounts.
Insurance.
Maybe.
Then:
“What about Lily?”
Marcus looked at him.
“That’s family law.”
“Can I demand a DNA test?”
“You can petition.”
Garrett thought of Sally shielding Lily.
“No.”
“What?”
May you like
“I’m not demanding anything.”
That was the first correct choice he made without being told.
