Chapter 19
The Girl With the Camera
Elsie's cloud backup held forty-three seconds Beatrice had tried to purchase, threaten and erase.
Frame one: Beatrice crossed the lawn with a closed black umbrella though the sky was clear.
Frame two: she stood at Arthur's door, left hand on the handle.
Frame three: Thomas emerged from the greenhouse bed as Beatrice entered.
Frame four: the umbrella leaned beside the drinks table while Beatrice poured cordial.
The images proved access and contradiction, not the medicine swap. Beatrice said she had taken Arthur documents and served him because he looked unwell.
"Why alter the ledger?" Asha asked.
"I did not."
"Why take Elsie's card?"
"I collected council media under our agreement."
Every answer stayed one legal step from admission.
June enlarged the fourth frame. The greenhouse timer read eleven twelve. Church repair records fixed the real time at eleven twenty-four. Arthur collapsed seven minutes later.
Beatrice had entered with a bottle-shaped weight in her apron pocket and left without it.
"Four minutes," June said. "That is all she had alone."
Asha nodded. "Then show me four minutes is enough."