His cameras.
He had installed them after a string of package thefts the previous winter.
One camera faced the driveway.
One covered the side gate.
Another covered the backyard.
They recorded motion automatically.
Marcus had never checked the backyard recordings unless an alert came through.
And because Brenda had used a key instead of forcing the gate, she may not have triggered the alert Marcus normally noticed.
The camera would still have recorded.
Marcus looked at her again.
"You've been here before."
Brenda stopped writing.
"What?"
"You've been in this yard before."
She laughed.
"You're imagining things."
Marcus held up his phone.
"My cameras aren't."
Her face changed.
Only slightly.
But Marcus saw it.
A tightening around the mouth.
A glance toward the camera mounted under the patio eave.
Then another glance toward the gate.
Marcus's stomach tightened.
"You didn't know about that camera."
Brenda looked back at him.
"Of course I did."
"No."
"You point cameras everywhere."
Marcus tapped the screen.
"I can check right now."
Brenda closed her notebook.
"Don't be ridiculous."
Marcus opened the security app.
She stepped closer.
"Marcus."
He looked at the motion history.
There were hundreds of clips.
Birds.
Wind.
The pool technician.
Marcus carrying towels.
His niece running across the deck.
He filtered by date.
Then time.
Early morning.
A clip appeared from eleven days earlier.
4:52 a.m.
Marcus opened it.
The backyard was dark.
The infrared camera showed the pool in gray tones.
The gate opened.
A figure entered.
Marcus's heart started beating faster.
The figure closed the gate.
Walked toward the pool.
Stopped beside the equipment pad.
Then moved out of frame.
Marcus looked at Brenda.
She was staring at the phone.
"Who is that?"
Brenda said nothing.
Marcus zoomed in.
The image was grainy.
The person wore a hooded jacket and baseball cap.
The face was mostly hidden.
But the body shape looked familiar.
Marcus swiped to the next clip.
5:06 a.m.
The same figure returned toward the gate.
Then paused.
Raised one hand.
A key glinted under the patio light.
The gate opened.
The figure left.
Marcus looked up.
"Give me the key."
Brenda's voice changed.
"You're making a serious accusation."
"Give me the key."
"I do not have your key."
Marcus held up the phone.
"Then what did you unlock my gate with ten minutes ago?"
Brenda stepped backward.
"I am leaving."
Marcus nodded.
"Good."
She walked toward the gate.
Marcus followed several feet behind.
"Don't touch me."
"I haven't."
"You are following me."
"You're leaving my property."
She reached the gate.
Marcus raised his phone.
"Show me the key."
Brenda looked at him.
"No."
She opened her bag.
The key ring appeared.
Marcus saw at least six keys.
One had a blue plastic tag.
Another had a red cap.
A third was plain brass.
Brenda selected the brass one.
Inserted it into Marcus's lock.
Turned it.