Chapter 4: Someone Had Been Watching Them
Police searched the house until sunrise.
Daniel sat at the kitchen table with Ava asleep against his chest.
She had finally cried herself unconscious shortly after four.
He held her tighter every time footsteps sounded upstairs.
The house no longer felt like his.
Every wall seemed capable of hiding a secret.
Every floorboard looked suspicious.
Every shadow had meaning.
Detective Collins returned at 5:12 a.m.
“We found evidence that someone accessed the concealed corridor from outside.””
Daniel's hand tightened around Ava.
“How?””
“An old service entrance behind the basement stairwell. It was covered by drywall from inside, but part of it had been cut and replaced.””
“When?””
“We can't tell yet.””
“Was someone living in there?””
“Possibly entering and leaving.””
Daniel looked toward Vanessa.
She sat across the room beside another officer.
“Did she know?””
Collins followed his gaze.
“Your wife says no.””
“And do you believe her?””
“That isn't something I decide based on instinct.””
Daniel gave a bitter smile.
“Lucky you.””
Collins sat.
“We need to talk about the girl’s mother.””
Daniel rubbed his face.
“Vanessa still won't tell me.””
“Her name is Simone Bennett.””
Daniel looked up.
Bennett was Vanessa's maiden name.
“Her sister.””
“Older sister.””
“Where is she?””
“We don't know.””
Daniel stared.
“What does that mean?””
“She disappeared approximately seven months ago.””
“That’s when Nia's father started looking for her.””
“Yes.””
Daniel's stomach tightened.
“What happened to Simone?””
“Vanessa says Simone arrived here with Nia and asked their mother for help. Three days later, Simone disappeared.””
“And Vanessa's mother?””
“Evelyn Bennett claims Simone abandoned the child.””
Daniel laughed softly in disbelief.
“And Vanessa believed that?””
“No.””
Collins leaned closer.
“Vanessa believes her mother helped Terrence find Simone.””
Daniel looked at the woman he'd married.
He suddenly imagined her at twenty years old.
Terrified.
Raised inside this house.
Surrounded by things she had apparently spent eleven years hiding.
“Why didn't she go to police?””
“She says her family tried before.””
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“Tried what?””
Collins hesitated.
Then answered.
“When Vanessa was seventeen, Simone accused Terrence Vale of assaulting her. Their mother pressured her to withdraw the complaint.””
Daniel closed his eyes.
It was too much.
Every answer uncovered another lie.
Another wound.
Another piece of his wife's life he had never been allowed to know.
Ava stirred.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“So Vanessa hid Nia.””
“Yes.””
“Why here?””
“This house has been vacant since Evelyn moved into an assisted-living apartment.””
Daniel looked up.
“Assisted living?””
“About four miles away.””
Daniel stared at Vanessa.
She had known her mother was alive.
Nearby.
For years, Vanessa had watched Daniel explain to Ava that she had no maternal grandmother because she had died before Ava was born.
“Jesus.””
Collins continued.
“Vanessa secretly arranged to purchase the house through a private sale after Evelyn transferred ownership to a family trust.””
“Why?””
“She says the concealed room was built when she and Simone were children.””
Daniel frowned.
“For what?””
Collins's expression changed.
“They used it to hide from their mother's boyfriend.””
Daniel looked at Vanessa again.
Her secrets were starting to take shape.
Not excuses.
Not forgiveness.
But context.
Then Collins said, “There's another problem.””
Daniel almost laughed.
“Of course there is.””
“We found a camera.””
His expression disappeared.
“Where?””
“In the air vent outside Ava's room.””
Daniel stood.
Ava woke instantly.
“Daddy?””
He gently set her upright.
Collins motioned for him to stay calm.
“The device wasn't pointed into her room.””
Daniel stopped.
“Where was it pointed?””
“At the concealed corridor.””
He stared at her.
“Somebody was watching Nia.””
“Yes.””
“Live?””
“Possibly.””
Vanessa stood across the room.
“What camera?””
Collins looked at her.
Vanessa rushed closer.
“What camera?””
“Sit down, Mrs. Carter.””
“I didn't put a camera there.””
“We know.””
Everyone stopped.
Daniel looked at Collins.
“How?””
“The wiring runs through the exterior service access. Whoever installed it likely entered from outside.””
Vanessa's lips parted.
“No.””
She suddenly looked toward the front windows.
“Close the curtains.””
The officer beside her frowned.
“What?””
“Close them.””
Vanessa crossed the room and yanked the curtains shut herself.
“He knows.””
Daniel stood.
“Who?””
“Terrence.””
“You think Nia's father found her?””
“He doesn't just find people.””
Vanessa turned toward Detective Collins.
“He waits. He watches. He wants you to know he can reach you before he does anything.””
Daniel's face hardened.
“You knew this man was dangerous enough to do that, and you hid his daughter in our house?””
“What was I supposed to do?””
“Tell me!””
The word thundered through the kitchen.
Ava flinched.
Daniel immediately lowered his voice.
Vanessa stared at him with tears in her eyes.
“I wanted to.””
“When?””
“Every day.””
“That isn't an answer.””
“I was afraid you'd make me go to the police.””
“Yes! I would have!””
“And then they would have called child services. They would've contacted Nia's legal guardian.””
“Terrence?””
Vanessa nodded.
Daniel understood.
He hated that he understood.
But understanding did not erase betrayal.
“You still should have told me.””
“I know.””
“No. You don't.””
He pointed upstairs.
“Our daughter slept three feet above an injured child while someone watched this house.””
Vanessa began crying.
“I know.””
“You made me responsible for something you wouldn't even let me know existed.””
She had no answer.
Detective Collins's phone buzzed.
She checked it.
Her expression changed.
“What?”” Daniel asked.
“We got preliminary information from the prepaid phone.””
Vanessa wiped her face.
“What information?””
“There were several outgoing calls.””
“To who?””
“Most didn't connect.””
Collins looked at Daniel.
“One did.””
Daniel waited.
“It lasted twenty-three seconds.””
“Who did Nia call?””
Collins looked at Vanessa.
“Evelyn Bennett.””
Vanessa's mother.
Vanessa went completely still.
“When?””
“Eight days ago.””
The same day as Nia's video.
Daniel looked between them.
“So Nia called her grandmother.””
Vanessa whispered, “She wouldn't.””
“Why not?””
“Because she was terrified of her.””
Collins said, “Then somebody may have called from Nia's phone.””
Nobody spoke.
Collins continued.
“The call occurred at 2:11 a.m.””
Daniel looked upstairs.
Ava usually woke hearing the whispers sometime after two.
“What happened after the call?”” he asked.
Collins glanced at her notes.
“Six minutes later, the phone recorded the video.””
Daniel felt cold.
“Can you see location data?””
“Here.””
Vanessa hugged herself.
Daniel asked the question nobody wanted to say aloud.
“Could Evelyn have been the person Nia saw?””
Vanessa shook her head.
“My mother is seventy-two.””
“She can still walk.””
“Barely.””
“Could she get into the corridor?””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Yes.””
Daniel turned away.
Then Ava spoke softly.
“Grandma came here.””
Every adult in the room froze.
Daniel looked down.
“What did you say?””
Ava rubbed her eyes.
“The old lady.””
Vanessa's face lost all color.
“What old lady?””
Ava looked at her mother.
“She came to my window.””
Daniel crouched immediately.
“When?””
“A few nights ago.””
“Why didn't you tell us?””
Ava's eyes filled.
“She said she was Grandma.””
Vanessa grabbed the kitchen counter.
Daniel felt sick.
“What did she say?””
Ava looked confused.
“She said not to listen when the floor talks.””
Nobody moved.
Ava continued.
“And she said if the girl underneath ever came out…”
Daniel's voice became barely audible.
“What?””
May you like
Ava looked at him.
“She said Mommy would go away forever.””
