Chapter 5 - The Camera Emily Hid in Bruno's Collar|
Dominic stared at the photograph.
The image showed Bruno sitting beside Emily's favorite garden bench.
His red ribbon was tied crookedly around his collar.
The little girl had drawn a heart beside his name.
Claire watched Dominic trace the edges of the photograph with one finger.
For a moment, he looked younger than thirty-four.
He looked like a boy who had just found a piece of his sister.
“Emily always trusted him,” Dominic whispered.
Samuel nodded.
“She used to tell everyone that Captain was smarter than the adults.”
A faint smile crossed Dominic's face.
“She was probably right.”
Claire smiled through her tears.
Then her father pointed toward the ribbon.
“Look carefully.”
Dominic frowned.
“What?”
“The knot.”
Claire leaned closer.
The ribbon appeared to be tied around a small black object attached to Bruno's collar.
“What is that?” she asked.
Samuel shook his head.
“I never knew.”
Dominic stared at the picture.
Then looked toward Claire.
“Do you remember the old collar?”
She nodded.
“Bruno still wears it.”
“Does it have that attachment?”
Claire considered it.
“There's a small leather pouch near the buckle. I thought it held an identification tag.”
Samuel's expression changed.
“Emily made that pouch.”
Dominic looked up.
“What?”
“She asked me to help her sew it. She said it was for Captain's secret treasure.”
The room fell silent.
Dominic stood.
“We need to look.”
They returned to the Moretti mansion that afternoon.
Bruno was sleeping beside the library fireplace.
When Claire entered, he lifted his head.
His tail thumped against the rug.
“Hello, Captain.”
She knelt.
The old dog pressed his muzzle against her shoulder.
Samuel stood in the doorway.
For several seconds, he didn't move.
Then his voice broke.
“Bruno.”
The German shepherd's ears lifted.
He turned.
Samuel crouched slowly.
“Hey, old friend.”
Bruno stared at him.
Then rose with visible effort.
He crossed the rug.
Pressed his head against Samuel's chest.
And began whining.
Samuel wrapped his arms around the dog.
“Oh, buddy.”
Claire covered her mouth.
Dominic looked away.
For nine years, Bruno had lived in a house filled with memories of Emily.
For nine years, Samuel had lived without the dog he'd trained.
And now the two were together again.
Samuel gently examined the collar.
The leather had cracked with age.
He found the small pouch near the buckle.
His hands trembled as he opened it.
Inside was a thin strip of folded plastic.
Claire leaned closer.
“What is it?”
Samuel unfolded it carefully.
A tiny memory card was sealed inside.
Dominic stopped breathing.
“Emily had a camera that used those.”
He looked toward the fireplace.
“She took pictures constantly. Dad bought her a small digital camera after her birthday.”
Claire stared at the card.
“Could this be from it?”
Samuel nodded slowly.
“Possibly.”
Dominic called Daniel.
Within an hour, a forensic technician arrived.
The card was old.
Its contacts were damaged.
But after careful examination, the technician confirmed that some data could be recovered.
Dominic stood beside the computer.
Claire remained near Bruno.
Samuel watched silently.
The first photographs appeared.
Emily smiling beside the greenhouse.
Bruno wearing a ridiculous paper crown.
A blurry picture of Dominic asleep on the couch.
Another of Antonio Moretti reading a newspaper.
Dominic laughed softly.
“She used to sneak up on me.”
Then the next image appeared.
A delivery van.
Martin Vale.
Vincent Caruso.
Two men carrying black cases into the greenhouse.
Dominic's smile vanished.
The technician opened another file.
A short video.
The image shook.
Emily's voice could be heard whispering.
“Captain, shh.”
Then a man's voice.
Martin Vale.
“Antonio will find out.”
Another voice answered.
Vincent.
“Not if we finish tonight.”
The image shifted.
Through the greenhouse window, several black cases were visible.
Martin opened one.
Inside appeared to be bundles of documents and sealed envelopes.
Then he spoke.
“The accounts are clean. The money will be gone before Antonio notices.”
Vincent answered.
“And the foundation?”
Martin laughed.
“He'll think the money was lost in investments.”
Dominic went completely still.
His father had established a charitable foundation in Emily's name years before her death.
It supported youth programs and animal rescue organizations.
Dominic remembered how upset Antonio became when the foundation lost a large investment.
But he'd never connected that loss to Vincent.
The video continued.
Emily whispered, “They're stealing.”
Then a branch snapped.
Martin turned toward the window.
“Who's there?”
The camera shook.
Emily began running.
Bruno barked.
Then the recording ended.
No one spoke.
The technician opened the final recovered file.
It was only eleven seconds long.
The picture was dark.
Emily's breathing sounded frightened.
Then her voice came through.
“Captain, find Dominic.”
A door slammed.
Someone shouted.
And before the recording ended, a man's voice said:
“Get the girl inside.”
Dominic stared at the screen.
He recognized the voice.
Martin Vale.
Then the technician found one final image.
A photograph taken moments before the video ended.
It showed the greenhouse interior.
And in the reflection of the glass door stood a third man.
Someone Dominic had never expected to see.
His father's personal physician.
Dr. Adrian Keller.
Dominic slowly turned toward Daniel.
“Find him.”
But Daniel's expression had already changed.
“Boss, there's something you should know.”
Dominic looked up.
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“What?”
“Dr. Keller signed Emily's death certificate.”
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