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“Okay then. Let’s see it.”
I brace myself as Maren props her tablet up and presses play, but my uneasiness quickly passes as I watch the screen. It’s nothing but dark shadows moving swiftly across the screen near the apartment. It never even shows the doors opening or closing, and honestly, if you weren’t looking hard, you’d miss the shadows.
As it ends, Michel leans back in his seat. “I am terrified. I’ve been caught.”
Maren laughs. “Well, yeah, it’s not exactly incriminating.”
“But you still have concerns?” Michel asks.
“Well…” Maren pauses, glancing at me.
“Anything you say to me you can say in front of Eli.”
Maren nods. “Police Chief Nader slowed down the video. It looks a little different then.” She presses play again, and slowed down, it doesn’t look much different, until the final scene. The shadow turns in the direction of the camera, revealing for just a flash, a face that looks remarkably like Michel’s.
Michel nods. “I still don’t see a problem.”
“Well, Nader said they might be able to do forensic analysis and isolate a face. To be clear, none of us think you’re a murderer.” She chuckles nervously. “But the video is just odd enough that it’s drawing some curiosity about how it was made.”
“I see.”
A wave of unease hits me, and I know it’s because that’s what Michel is feeling.
“I do appreciate you bringing this to my attention since my name is attached. It is concerning that someone orsomethingcould be lurking around the building. Perhaps I’ll go down to the precinct and offer to discuss the video.”
Maren nods, studying his face. She’s suspicious. “That’s a good idea. Remove any doubts anyone might have.”
“Of course.” Michel shifts his gaze to Maren. “Obviously, I have nothing to hide. I’m just a regular citizen doing my best to make Neubrook a great place to live.”
Maren nods, but her eyes are slightly glazed, her attention fixed on Michel in an unnatural way.
“Right. Of course,” she says. “No one doubts that.”
Michel smiles, offering his hand to help Maren. “I’ll talk to Chief Nader.” As he speaks, he discreetly pushes the delete button on Maren’s tablet.
I offer her a cookie as further distraction. “You need one of these, Maren. They’re from the new bakery that just opened a month ago.”
“Ooh.” She leans over the plate and Michel makes quick work of her email, removing all traces of the incident with stunning quickness.
Maren chooses a cookie, biting into the buttery softness. “Oh wow. Delicious.” Then she blinks, her brow crinkling. “Why…” Chuckling, she shakes her head.
“Is something wrong?” Michel asks.
“Uh, no. I was just wondering what I came here for. I seemed to have forgotten.”
“You said you were passing by and came to give me an update about the mixed-use permit for Oscala.”
“Oh, right.” She laughs. “I guess the cookie distracted me.” She eats the rest of it. “Um, gah, I feel so ditzy. I can’t remember the update. That’s not like me.”
“No worries,” Michel says. “I’m sure you have a lot on your mind.”
“Yes. Um… I’ll get out of your way.”
“I never mind a visit from you.”
She grabs her tablet, still looking slightly bothered by her lack of memory, before saying goodbye and exiting the office slowly.
Once she’s gone, Michel grabs his keys. “I need to get over to the station and stop any additional discussion about it. This ball cannot come soon enough.”
