Chapter 2 - The Bowl
Daniel reached the kitchen in seconds.
Lily ran to him.
He dropped his bag and caught her.
“What happened?”
She buried her face in his coat.
Vanessa appeared behind them smiling too brightly.
“You’re home early.”
“What is that?”
“Oh, please. This looks worse than it is.”
“It is exactly what it looks like.”
“You stay out of this.”
Daniel finally looked at Vanessa.
“Did you make my daughter eat from that?”
“She threw her dinner.”
“I didn’t.”
“See? This is the problem. She lies constantly.”
“Lily.”
“When did you last eat?”
“She had breakfast.”
Maria said:
“She had half a piece of toast.”
“And lunch?”
“She refused it.”
Lily whispered:
“She locked it.”
“What?”
“The fridge.”
Daniel walked to the refrigerator.
A small silver padlock hung through the handles.
“When did this go on?”
“Daniel, she sneaks food at night. Her pediatrician said we needed structure.”
“My pediatrician?” Lily whispered.
“Who told you that?”
Vanessa opened a drawer and produced a printed page.
STRICT PORTION CONTROL.
NO UNSUPERVISED SNACKS.
“I never approved this.”
“You were traveling.”
“You don’t make medical decisions for my daughter without me.”
“I have been doing everything while you’re gone.”
The child had gone silent again.
Then he noticed a faint red line around her wrist.
“What happened there?”
“She pulls at things when she’s angry.”
“No.”
Maria walked to the pantry door.
Inside was a small wooden stool.
A stack of school worksheets.
Maria pointed to the inside handle.
“Why is there no handle?”
“She puts me in there.”
“How long?”
“She needs consequences.”
“Don’t.”
“Not angry. Not yet. Look first.”
She pointed above the pantry door.
A tiny black camera lens sat in the corner.
Daniel stared.
“That camera has been disconnected for months.”
Maria swallowed.
May you like
“I don’t think it has.”
And from the foyer, the security panel suddenly began beeping.
