Page 76 of The Cottage on Plum Island
Jennifer told Harley about falling asleep and waking up with Angela waiting for her and how Angela had left while Jennifer was in the shower.
“You just let her go?” Harley said in disbelief.
“What was I supposed to do?” Jennifer looked at him with raised brows. “She took a couple of hundred from my purse and left.”
“Wait!” Harley held up his hands. “She stole money from you too?”
“No!” Jennifer frowned, shaking her head. “I said Angela took it, not stole it. She left me an IOU.”
“I’m sorry.” Harley blew out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. “Let me know how much she took, and I’ll pay you back.”
“No!” Jennifer shook her head frustratedly. “I didn’t tell you about the money to be paid back. I told you to let you know that Angela got a cab.”
“Did you call the cab company?” Harley asked.
“I did.” Jennifer nodded in confirmation. “Her note said she was going home because she remembered where Clair said the evidence was hidden.”
“Where did the cab take her to?” Harley asked.
“I thought it was to her house, the one you told me that Clair and Wallis were living in while Angela was in the institute?” Jennifer said, and Harley nodded. “But it wasn’t. They took her to this address.”
Jennifer dug in her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper she’d written on. “It’s the bus depot where she bought a ticket to Newbury Port.”
“She is going home,” Harley told Jennifer. “Angela calls the institute home.” He looked at Jennifer in confusion. “What evidence did you have that cleared my name if she’s going to Newbury Port to get it?”
Jennifer told him about the phone.
“You gave the phone to the cops with the video evidence of two people putting Clair’s lifeless body into the car?” Harley asked. “Did you make a copy of the video?”
“Of course.” Jennifer looked hurt that he’d even have to ask. “I read mystery novels.” She dug into her purse, lowering her voice even more. “Only I gave the cops a phone I bought this morning with the video on and told them it was left for me.” She grinned and pulled out a phone he recognized as Angela’s old phone. “I kept the original.”
“That’s tampering with evidence.” Harley glanced around worriedly.
“They have the video. We needed to keep the phone because there are more files on here I can’t unlock,” Jennifer told him. “I thought maybe you’d be able to help with that.”
“I can try,” Harley promised. “Show me the video you can unlock.”
Jennifer unlocked the phone. “This is the evidence she left for me to clear your name.”
She scrolled to a video file dated the previous day’s date, typed in a password, and pressed play. The video showed two people, a woman and a man, who Harley instantly recognized. They were putting Clair’s lifeless form into the car. There was a noise, and the camera shook as if it had been bumped or the person recording it had gotten a fright. The woman turned toward the camera as something banged like a door hitting a wall.
“Get out of here!”The woman told the man, turning toward the camera again, fear flashed in her eyes.
The man turned and headed straight for whoever was filming.
“What areyou doing here!“ The woman hissed, looking at the camera as a shadow fell over her and the screen went black.
“I know you know the man.” Jennifer’s eyes narrowed. “He must’ve been the one to call the cops hoping to frame you.”
“Yes, that’s Duncan. He’s the Wesley’s driver that brought me to the garage last night.” Harley nodded. “He must’ve been the one to call the police.” He shook his head. “But that video doesn’t make sense because Duncan looked genuinely shocked to see Clair dead.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “And why would Annie want to hurt Angela or Clair?”
“Annie?”
Harley blinked in disbelief, barely hearing the catch in Jennifer’s voice as his mind spun. “There must be some mistake!” He shook his head and pressed play on the video again. “There must be another explanation for this.”
He took the phone and examined the footage twice after that.
“Harley, how do you know Annie?” Jennifer asked him.
