Chapter 4: The Person Behind the Screen
“I wasn't supposed to be the one who did it.””
Vanessa’s voice barely carried across the pool deck.
Maya stared at her.
Marcus tightened his grip on the phone.
“Then who was?””
Vanessa looked toward the mansion.
Nobody spoke.
The music had been turned off. The pool lights cast shifting blue patterns across the stone patio, making every face look colder.
Marcus stepped closer.
“Vanessa.””
“I can't tell you.””
“You almost killed her.””
“I know.””
Maya flinched.
The words sounded different coming from Vanessa.
Not defensive.
Not smug.
Terrified.
Maya slowly stood, still wrapped in Marcus’s jacket.
“Who asked you to hurt me?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I didn't want to.””
“You pushed me.””
“I was supposed to make it look like you fell.””
“You pushed me.””
“I panicked!””
Maya’s voice cracked.
“You knew I couldn't swim!””
Vanessa closed her eyes.
“Yes.””
Marcus looked down at the phone again.
“Who's the unknown number?””
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
“I swear.””
Marcus held the screen toward her.
“You were talking to this person before tonight.””
Vanessa said nothing.
“Give me the name.””
“I don't have a name.””
“Then give me the number.””
“I deleted it.””
Marcus stared at her.
Vanessa's hands began to tremble.
“I deleted the contact because they told me to.””
Maya felt a chill that had nothing to do with her wet clothes.
“They?””
Vanessa looked at her.
“Yes.””
“How many people are involved?””
“I don't know.””
“You don't know?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I only talked to one person.””
Marcus’s eyes narrowed.
“Who?””
Vanessa hesitated.
Then she whispered, “They said if I didn't do it, you'd tell everyone.””
Maya frowned.
“Tell everyone what?””
Vanessa looked away.
“I don't know.””
“You're protecting someone,” Marcus said.
“No.””
“Then you're afraid of someone.””
Vanessa didn't answer.
One of the guests stepped forward.
“Marcus, we should call the police.””
Vanessa immediately turned.
“No!””
Everyone looked at her.
The panic in her voice was unmistakable.
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
“Why don't you want the police here?””
Vanessa swallowed.
“Because they won't believe me.””
Maya gave a bitter laugh.
“They have a message saying you planned to make my death look like an accident.””
Vanessa's eyes filled with tears.
“I know how it looks.””
“How it looks?”” Maya whispered.
Vanessa looked at her sister.
“I was trying to protect you.””
Maya stared.
“By drowning me?””
“No.””
“Then explain.””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
A sharp vibration interrupted her.
Everyone looked down.
It came from Marcus’s hand.
The phone screen had lit up.
A new message.
*You should not have let him find the phone.*
Marcus froze.
Another message appeared.
*Finish what you started.*
Maya's stomach dropped.
Vanessa stepped backward.
“No…”
Marcus looked at her.
“Who is watching us?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“I don't know.””
The phone vibrated again.
This time, the message contained no words.
Only a photograph.
Marcus opened it.
His face went completely still.
Maya saw the screen from behind him.
It was a photograph of Maya.
Taken that morning.
Standing outside the mansion.
And behind her, reflected in the glass doors, was someone watching.
Marcus slowly raised his eyes toward the crowd.
“Everybody stay where you are.””
May you like
But one person was already missing.
And nobody had noticed when they left.
