Margaret locked the heavy front door after they left.
The house felt strangely cold and empty now.
She walked slowly toward her private office room.
Her knees felt weak from the terrible shock.
She needed to check the security recording system right now.
The computer sat quietly on her dark oak desk.
She pressed the power button with a trembling finger.
The screen lit up with a bright blue background.
Margaret entered her personal password into the system.
She opened the security camera folder on the screen.
Her eyes scanned the list of video files carefully.
The folder for today's date appeared completely empty.
Margaret gasped loudly in total panic and dread.
Margaret: Where are the video files from today?
She clicked the refresh button four times in a row.
Nothing appeared in the empty folder window.
Someone had accessed her computer earlier that morning.
She remembered Marcus visiting the house two days ago.
He had asked to use her bathroom upstairs alone.
He must have tampered with the recording hard drive then.
Margaret sat down in her leather chair with a groan.
Without that video proof she was in great danger.
Marcus would tell the police she pushed Emily down.
The local police would believe a young husband's words.
She was just an old woman living alone.
Suddenly her telephone rang on the wooden desk.
She picked up the plastic receiver with cold hands.
Margaret: Hello who is calling me right now?
Detective Davis: This is Detective Davis from Dallas police.
Margaret: How is my stepdaughter doing at the hospital?
Detective Davis: She is awake and talking to us now.
Margaret: Thank God she is safe and conscious!
Detective Davis: She says you pushed her on purpose.
Margaret felt the air leave her tired lungs.
Emily was lying to protect her husband's plan.
Margaret: She slipped on her own high heels detective!
Detective Davis: We are coming over to inspect your house.
Margaret: I will be waiting right here for you.
She hung up the phone and stood up quickly.
She needed to find another copy of that footage.