Chapter 5 — David studying the live monitoring feed — Then discovering the exact corner is on display
The display flickered from black to a sharp, high-contrast gray.
A grid of four separate camera angles appeared on the monitor.
The images were crisp, showing zero signs of signal degradation.
David tapped his finger against the heavy steel edge of the console.
His eyes scanned the individual video feeds one by one.
He focused on the third quadrant in the lower right corner of the monitor.
The feed displayed the exact corner of the costume room where they were currently standing.
Rows of velvet dresses hung motionless against the shadowed wall.
The old metal locker stood clearly visible beneath the overhead vent.
Bright white timestamp data glowed in the lower corner of the display.
The numbers ticked forward in real time.
02:14:58 AM.
02:14:59 AM.
02:15:00 AM.
David watched the monitor in absolute silence.
The lens overhead was not disconnected at all.
The wiring was intact and fully powered.
The screen proved the area was never unmonitored.
Grant shifted his weight nervously behind David.
Did it catch us walking in? Grant asked, his voice dropping to a low murmur.
David did not answer immediately.
He reached out and grabbed the edge of the console keyboard.
He tapped a sequence of keys to pull up the archive directory.
A list of recorded video files populated the screen with matching timestamps.
David clicked on the file corresponding to thirty minutes prior.
The playback began instantly.
Grant leaned over David’s shoulder to look at the monitor.
On the screen, an older playback clip started rolling.
The timestamp read 01:45:12 AM.
The camera angle showed the empty storage room in clear detail.
Then a specific figure stepped into frame from the far side of the costume racks.