Chapter 7 — The Secret Hidden Beneath the Car Seat
# The Birthday Surprise
## Chapter 7 — The Secret Hidden Beneath the Car Seat
The FBI transformed Harrison Manor into an active crime scene before sunrise.
Yellow evidence markers covered the garage floor while forensic technicians photographed every inch of Emily's BMW. Agent Mercer watched silently as the recovered phone was placed inside a sealed evidence bag.
"No one touches it until Digital Forensics arrives," he ordered.
Ethan stood beside the garage entrance, unable to take his eyes off the device.
Just a few hours earlier, he believed the worst thing that could happen was discovering his wife's affair.
Now federal agents were treating his home like the center of a criminal investigation.
Emily wrapped her arms around herself.
"I swear I didn't know it was there."
Mercer looked at her.
"I believe you."
She looked surprised.
"You do?"
"I've interviewed enough guilty people to recognize fear."
"What I see isn't guilt."
"It's confusion."
Before Emily could respond, another black SUV pulled into the driveway.
Two digital forensic specialists stepped out carrying portable computers.
One of them carefully connected the recovered phone to a secure extraction device.
The screen remained black for several tense seconds.
Then...
It came to life.
"Phone unlocked," the technician announced.
Mercer frowned.
"No password?"
The technician shook his head.
"It was configured to unlock automatically once connected to this device."
"Someone wanted to make sure the information could be accessed."
Folders quickly appeared across the screen.
Messages.
Photos.
Financial records.
Encrypted applications.
Then one folder caught everyone's attention.
**HARRISON**
Mercer clicked it.
The room immediately fell silent.
Inside were hundreds of files.
Copies of Ethan's passport.
Property deeds.
Security camera layouts.
Business contracts.
Private family calendars.
Vacation schedules.
Sophie's school information.
Emergency contact lists.
Even blueprints of Harrison Manor.
Ethan felt a chill run through his body.
"This wasn't just spying..."
Mercer nodded.
"No."
"This was preparation."
Emily stepped backward.
Lucas had never asked strange questions directly.
He had simply listened whenever she talked about her family.
Every casual conversation...
Every harmless detail...
He had been collecting them.
The technician continued scrolling.
Another folder appeared.
Unlike the others, this one displayed a red lock icon.
Title:
**FINAL INSURANCE**
Mercer looked at Ethan.
"I think this is the reason Lucas called tonight."
The technician clicked the folder.
A password request appeared.
No one knew what came next.
