Chapter 2 - THE CAMERA I DIDN'T BUY
Detective Sarah Ramirez arrived before midnight.
Vanessa sat in the living room with her arms folded while officers searched the house.
"You called the police on your own wife?" she asked.
"I called them because someone put a hidden camera in my daughter's bedroom."
"Maybe your late wife installed it."
Claire had died eighteen months earlier.
"She would never do that."
Vanessa looked away.
The police found four devices.
One in Emma's room.
One in the hallway.
One in the laundry room.
One inside my office, aimed directly at my desk.
Ramirez placed them in evidence bags.
"Did you install any of these?"
"No."
"Did your wife?"
Vanessa stood.
"Absolutely not."
"How long has Mrs. Mercer lived here?"
"Three months."
Ramirez checked the serial number, then the storage date.
Her expression changed.
"What?"
She looked at me.
"This model was activated approximately eleven months ago."
My chest tightened.
"That can't be right."
Vanessa had not even met Emma eleven months ago.
At least that was what I believed.
Ramirez removed the memory card.
The first recovered files showed Emma sleeping, playing, and me leaving for work.
Then the screen changed.
Another house.
Different furniture.
Different child.
A little blonde girl, maybe five, sat on the floor coloring.
A woman's hand entered the frame and removed a photograph from the child's nightstand.
The little girl began crying.
The voice behind the camera said, "You don't need her anymore."
I stared at Ramirez.
"Who is that girl?"
"We don't know yet."
Vanessa went pale.
The detective noticed.
"So you recognize her?"
"No."
"Your face says otherwise."
Vanessa grabbed her coat.
"I'm done being interrogated."
Ramirez stepped between her and the door.
"You're not under arrest, but I strongly suggest you remain available."
Vanessa looked at me.
"You are destroying this family."
I almost laughed.
Then Emma whispered from the stairs.
"She knows that girl."
Vanessa turned.
Emma hugged Bunny.
"She showed me her picture."
Ramirez looked at Vanessa.
"When?"
May you like
Emma answered before she could.
"Before Daddy married her."
