Morgan's fingers traced the edges of the wall, his touch barely skimming the surface of the small, hidden compartment. The mansion's opulence was everywhere—polished marble floors, heavy drapes, expensive artwork—but here, in this quiet corner, was something out of place. He could feel the subtle grooves, almost invisible to the untrained eye, signaling the existence of a concealed door.
Kira crouched beside him, her curiosity piqued. "This wasn't on any of the blueprints. The forensics team didn't even mention it."
Morgan nodded, his jaw tightening. "Exactly. That's how you know it's important. Reed wanted us to miss it. He counted on us being too focused on the crime scene itself—on the obvious."
He pressed against the wall, feeling for a catch or a latch. For a moment, nothing happened. But then, with a quiet click, the panel shifted slightly, revealing a hidden compartment tucked into the wall. Inside, something gleamed faintly under the low light—a metallic glint that made Kira's pulse quicken.
"Move," she whispered, pushing Morgan gently aside. With careful fingers, she reached in and pulled out a slim, silver case, the size of a small notebook. It looked expensive, intricate designs etched into the metal.
Morgan stood, watching intently. "Open it."
Kira glanced at him before slowly flicking open the latch. Inside the case was a series of small, neatly stacked documents. But at the very top, a memory card lay nestled within the velvet lining.
She held it up. "This is what he's been hiding."
Morgan's heart raced. "What's on it?"
Without wasting time, Kira pulled out her phone, inserting the memory card into a portable reader she always carried. It took a few seconds for the files to load. The first video began to play, and as the screen illuminated with movement, both detectives stared in shock.
The footage showed a lavish room—not unlike the mansion's interior—with low lighting and soft music playing in the background. Two figures, a man and a woman, sat on an ornate couch. The man was the businessman's son—smiling, relaxed, completely unaware of the storm that was about to come. The woman next to him was someone neither Morgan nor Kira recognized, but what followed in the video sent a shiver down their spines.
In the background, standing just out of focus but unmistakable, was Reed.
"He was there," Kira whispered, her voice barely audible. "At the house… before the murder."
Morgan's face hardened. "This changes everything."
Reed wasn't just manipulating events from prison. He had been in the victim's house—likely the night of the murder. This put him at the scene, turning the entire investigation on its head. They had assumed Reed's role had been distant, operating through proxies and puppets. But this footage showed otherwise. Reed had been directly involved, and whatever had happened that night had been orchestrated with his own hands.
Kira rewound the footage, scanning for any other clues. The video didn't show the murder itself, but it was enough to place Reed in the heart of the crime. "If we leak this," Kira said, "it could blow everything open. The media will have a field day. But Reed… he'll know we've found it."
Morgan clenched his fists. "That's the risk we have to take. We can't sit on this. We go to the businessman's father. He deserves to know the truth."
Kira closed the case, her mind racing through the implications. "But why leave this here? Why hide it at the scene of the crime?"
"Because Reed wanted us to find it eventually," Morgan said darkly. "He's pulling strings again. This footage—there's more to it. It feels like a breadcrumb. But a breadcrumb to what?"
Kira's eyes narrowed, thinking through the possibilities. "A bigger conspiracy? We've only scratched the surface. There's got to be more players in this game."
Morgan nodded. "Let's go. We confront the businessman now. He may know more than he's let on."
Later that day, Morgan and Kira stood outside the towering gates of the businessman's estate. The mansion was even grander than the victim's—a monument to wealth and power. As they were escorted through the sprawling garden and into the grand foyer, the weight of the case hung heavy in the air. The businessman had been cooperative throughout the investigation, but there was always something off about him—something guarded.
Inside, the businessman waited in a lavish sitting room, his demeanor calm, but his eyes sharp as ever. He rose to greet them, gesturing toward a plush set of chairs. "Detectives, any news?"
Morgan didn't waste time. He placed the silver case on the table between them. "We found this in your son's mansion."
The businessman's eyes flickered with recognition. "What is it?"
Kira inserted the memory card into a nearby tablet, pulling up the video. "Watch."
The businessman leaned forward, his expression shifting from curiosity to disbelief as the footage played. He watched the video twice, his knuckles white as he gripped the arms of his chair. When the screen went dark, he remained silent for several moments.
Finally, he spoke, his voice low and tense. "Reed… I thought he was behind this. But to see him in my son's home… before the murder…"
Morgan leaned forward. "You knew about Reed's connection to your son, didn't you?"
The businessman's face hardened. "There were rumors, but I didn't know the extent. My son… he got involved with some dangerous people, made choices I didn't agree with. But I never thought Reed would go this far."
Kira studied the businessman's face, searching for any signs of deception. "You've been protecting more than just your son's memory, haven't you?"
The businessman met her gaze, unflinching. "I've been protecting my family's legacy. My son's mistakes were his own, but this… this is Reed's doing."
Morgan didn't buy it completely. "What else are you hiding? There's more to this story. Reed wouldn't have acted without leverage."
The businessman stood, walking to the window, staring out over his immaculate garden. "There are things you don't understand, Detective Hayes. Things that go beyond this murder."
Morgan's patience was wearing thin. "Then make me understand. Tell us what we're up against."
The businessman turned, his face grave. "Reed is just a piece of a much larger puzzle. If you dig too deep, you'll find yourself buried."