Chapter 2 - The Camera

Richard looked from Leo’s tiny finger to the camera.

Vanessa stopped crying.

Richard took Leo from Anna carefully. “We’re checking the footage.”

“First we should call a doctor,” Vanessa said.

“We will. After I see what happened.”

“Richard, he’s upset.”

“So am I.”

Anna followed them into the study, still shaking from the adrenaline. Richard sat Leo on his lap and opened the home security app on his laptop.

The staircase camera showed offline.

Richard frowned. “That’s strange.”

Vanessa crossed her arms. “Maybe the Wi-Fi dropped.”

“The other cameras are online.”

He clicked the device history.

8:42 a.m. — Camera disconnected.

Richard’s face went still.

“Who disconnected it?”

Vanessa laughed once, too quickly. “How would I know?”

Richard stood. “The system records locally, too.”

Vanessa’s eyes narrowed.

Anna felt the room tighten.

Richard opened a cabinet and removed a small black storage unit. He connected it to the computer. Files populated the screen.

Hallway. Kitchen. Backyard.

Staircase folder: empty.

“What the hell?” Richard muttered.

Vanessa turned to Anna. “Maybe she deleted it.”

Anna almost laughed. “I don’t have the password.”

“You’ve watched me enter it.”

“No, I haven’t.”

Vanessa stepped closer. “You’ve been acting strange for weeks.”

“Because you keep trying to get me fired.”

“Because you’re obsessed with my husband and my stepson.”

Richard’s head snapped up.

Anna stared at Vanessa. “That is disgusting.”

“Is it?” Vanessa said. “You sleep here three nights a week. You know where everything is. You act like Leo belongs to you.”

“He’s a child, not property.”

Richard slammed his palm on the desk. “Enough.”

Leo flinched.

Everyone stopped.

Anna knelt beside him. “Hey. You’re okay.”

Leo sniffled, staring at Vanessa.

Then he whispered something.

At first Anna thought he had said “camera.”

Richard bent closer. “What did you say, buddy?”

Leo pointed at Vanessa.

“Vessa,” he said.

Vanessa forced a smile. “Yes, sweetheart?”

Leo shook his head.

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Then he touched the back of his own neck and said two words that made Richard’s face drain of color.

“Vessa push.”