Chapter 2 - The First Recording Showed Madeline Leaving
Walter carried Madeline downstairs before watching anything.
He wanted her out of the bedroom first.
A physician was called to the mansion. While Madeline was examined in the downstairs sitting room, Walter opened the home security system.
The hallway camera was still active.
Blake apparently believed it had stopped working months earlier because its small status light no longer glowed.
Madeline had discovered the truth only three days ago.
“The light broke,” she said. “Not the camera.”
Walter pulled up the timestamp she gave him.
11:47 p.m.
Three nights earlier.
The screen showed the empty hallway outside the bedroom.
Then the door opened.
Madeline stepped out.
She looked tired, but she was walking independently.
She wore sweatpants, a sweater, and shoes.
A small overnight bag hung from one shoulder.
Her phone was in her right hand.
Walter leaned closer.
Madeline had not told him she had tried to leave.
She walked toward the staircase.
Then Blake emerged behind her.
Madeline turned.
The camera had no usable audio, but their argument was obvious.
Blake pointed back toward the bedroom.
Madeline shook her head.
She continued toward the stairs.
Blake stepped in front of her.
Madeline moved right.
Blake moved right.
She tried left.
He blocked again.
Then he reached for the bag.
Madeline jerked it away.
Blake grabbed it a second time and ripped it from her shoulder.
Madeline immediately reached for her phone.
Blake caught her wrist.
Walter paused the video.
His eyes moved from the screen to Madeline’s arm.
One dark bruise sat exactly where Blake’s hand was gripping her on the recording.
Walter looked at her.
Madeline whispered:
“Keep playing.”
He did.
Madeline tried to pull free.
Blake held on.
She twisted harder.
Her shoulder struck the hallway wall.
Blake finally released her.
Madeline stumbled.
Then Blake took the phone from her hand.
She reached for it.
He lifted it away.
Madeline stood there crying.
Blake pointed toward the bedroom.
She shook her head again.
He advanced one step.
Madeline backed away.
Then another.
Then another.
Until she crossed the bedroom threshold.
Blake followed.
The door closed.
Twenty seconds later, Blake came back out alone.
He still had the overnight bag.
He still had Madeline’s phone.
He walked away.
Walter stopped the footage.
“That bruise.”
Madeline nodded.
“He told me I got it when I fell.”
Walter’s face tightened.
“You knew that wasn’t true.”
“At first.”
“At first?”
Madeline looked down.
“He kept saying I remembered it wrong.”
Walter stared at the frozen frame.
Blake’s fingers wrapped around Madeline’s wrist.
Madeline pulling away.
The wall behind her.
The chronology was simple.
She had tried to leave.
He had stopped her.
Then taken the two things she needed most.
Her bag.
And her phone.
Walter looked at the timestamp.
“This wasn’t the first time.”
Madeline shook her head.
“No.”
Walter felt something colder than anger.
“How many?”
May you like
Madeline looked toward the security monitor.
“Start nine days earlier.”
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