Chapter 25 - THE WOMAN WHO RETURNED TO THE PORCH
Security footage showed Daniel’s car driving away from Diane’s house.
Thirty seconds later, Hannah exited through the front door and walked toward the driveway. She looked back once, then continued out of frame.
Another woman in a dark coat approached from the side yard.
Her hood and the camera angle completely hid her face.
Daniel leaned closer.
His anger changed to alarm.
“Wait…”
The woman stopped beside Diane’s front door.
Diane opened it immediately.
Daniel’s eyes widened.
“Who is that?”
Ruth advanced the footage.
The woman entered. Twelve minutes later, the side gate opened. Eli ran out carrying his backpack. The dark-coated woman followed, knelt, and pointed toward Ruth’s house.
Eli crossed the yard alone.
The woman returned to Diane’s porch instead of escaping with him.
Hannah reappeared from the driveway and confronted her. Their gestures became frantic. Diane emerged with a document folder and tried to pull the woman inside.
Hannah pushed Diane’s hand away.
For one moment, the dark-coated woman turned toward the camera. Sun glare and the hood still concealed her face, but she held up a card.
Ruth froze the frame.
The card read:
May you like
ELI IS SAFE. DANIEL DID NOT KNOW.
Then Diane’s car entered the driveway. The camera feed cut to black.
