Chapter 19 - Home
Madeline lifted Poppy without waking her and carried her into the bathroom.
She locked the door, pushed a chair under the knob, and called 911.
Downstairs, glass broke.
Poppy opened her eyes.
"Mommy?"
"Quiet game," Madeline whispered.
Poppy nodded, instantly serious.
Footsteps moved through the hallway.
Preston knew every room in the house.
Every lock.
Every hiding place.
"Maddie," he called softly. "I just want to talk."
She almost laughed at the insanity of it.
"Police are coming."
"Then we don't have much time."
The bedroom door opened.
A moment later the bathroom knob turned.
Preston pushed once.
Twice.
"You ruined my life," he said through the door.
Madeline held Poppy against her chest.
"You built your life on ruining mine."
Silence.
Then Preston said, "I loved you."
Madeline closed her eyes.
That was the cruelest sentence yet.
"No," she said. "You loved having me believe you."
The door shook as he kicked it.
The chair slid an inch.
Poppy reached for her rabbit.
Madeline had forgotten the toy was still tucked under her arm.
Inside the bow, the tiny camera's red light blinked.
Recording.
Preston kicked again.
Wood split near the lock.
Sirens sounded far away.
"Daddy," Poppy called suddenly.
Madeline tried to stop her.
But Poppy continued.
"You said Mommy was sick because she forgot stuff."
Preston stopped kicking.
"That's right, baby."
"But you made her forget."
Silence.
Then Preston's voice changed.
"Who told you that?"
"I saw you."
The door exploded inward.
May you like
Preston stepped through with a kitchen knife in his hand.
And Poppy's little camera captured every second.
