“I know what she told me that night. But I also know something else.”
I looked at her.
She hesitated.
“There’s a camera overlooking the courtyard.”
For several seconds, I couldn’t speak.
“A camera?”
She nodded.
“My husband had it installed after someone damaged the garden gate last year.”
I felt my pulse quicken.
“Did it record the staircase?”
Margaret looked down.
“Part of it.”
I stared at her.
For days, I’d wondered whether anyone would believe me.
Now she was telling me there might be a recording.
I took a breath.
“Did you watch it?”
She nodded.
“Yes.”
My throat tightened.
“What did you see?”
Margaret reached for my hand.
“Claire, I saw Vanessa follow you outside.”
I closed my eyes.
She continued.
“I saw her standing close to you near the top of the steps.”
For several seconds, she was silent.
Then she whispered, “And I saw her push you.”
Tears began running down my cheeks.
I couldn’t speak.
Margaret squeezed my hand.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know about the camera sooner.”
I shook my head.
She continued.
“My husband was away that weekend. He checked the recording after I told him what happened.”
I looked at her.
“Does Adrian know?”
Her expression changed.
“Not yet.”
I stared at her.
“Why?”
She hesitated.
“Because I wanted to speak to you first.”
For the first time in days, I felt someone was allowing me to decide what happened next.
