She plugged the flash drive into the old laptop that was in the basement.
There was only one video.
Date: two months prior.
She clicked.
The image was shaky, as if it had been recorded in a hurry.
Mr. Antônio was sitting exactly where Clara had found him that afternoon.
A lucid gaze.
Of course.
— If you’re seeing this, Clara… it’s because Miguel has already returned.
She put her hand to her mouth.
— It took me a while to realize who he was. He approached me saying he wanted to help. He said my real grandson had debts. That he needed someone strong to protect the family’s assets.
The old man took a deep breath in the video.Financial planning advice
But I found out too late. He doesn’t want to protect anything. He wants to control everything.
The image froze for a second.
— He took me to doctors who were friends of his. They tried to declare me incompetent. They tried to isolate me. If you’re seeing this… it’s because I can no longer stop it alone.
His eyes in the video seemed to pierce through the screen.
— You’re the only person who stayed when there was nothing to gain.
The recording ended abruptly.
Clara stood motionless.
The crackling sound upstairs brought her back.
Steps.
In the basement.
She turned off the laptop.
Too late.
The shadow appeared on the stairs.
