Chapter 4 - The Little Black Dot

Ethan followed Isabella's stare.

At first he saw nothing but the smoke detector.

Then he noticed a second black dot in the vent above his desk.

He climbed onto a chair and pulled the vent cover loose.

A tiny camera dropped into his palm.

Isabella backed away.

"She said it was for safety."

Ethan's skin crawled. "Where else?"

"I don't know."

"Think, Bella."

She hugged the rabbit tighter. "My room. Maybe the playroom."

Ethan forced his voice to stay calm. "Go lock your bedroom door. Don't open it unless I say the word bluebird."

"Why bluebird?"

"Because Mom used to call you that."

For the first time that day, something warm flickered in her face.

"Okay."

He found another camera hidden inside a digital clock in Isabella's room.

Beatriz appeared behind him before he could remove it.

"What are you doing?"

Ethan held up the clock. "You tell me."

Her eyes flashed. "That's a nursery camera."

"She's eight."

"She sleepwalks."

"Since when?"

"Since you stopped paying attention."

Ethan took a breath. "Give me your phone."

"Absolutely not."

"You used my security account. You forged my signature. You recorded my daughter. Give me the phone."

Beatriz laughed once, sharply. "Call the police, Ethan. Tell them your wife installed cameras in her own house and gave your difficult child chores. See how stupid you sound."

He almost answered.

Then Isabella screamed.

They ran upstairs.

Her bedroom was empty.

The window stood open.

Ethan's heart stopped.

"Bella!"

A small voice answered from below. "Dad!"

She was on the porch roof, barefoot in pajamas, trying to climb toward the gutter.

Ethan leaned out the window. "Don't move. I'm coming."

He reached her from the guest room and pulled her inside.

She was shaking so hard her teeth clicked.

"Why did you go out there?"

Isabella pointed at the digital clock.

"It talked."

Ethan stared.

"What do you mean?"

"Your voice came out of it."

"What did it say?"

Tears filled her eyes.

"It said if I told you the truth, you'd send me away."

Ethan turned toward Beatriz.

She had gone completely still.

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Then the digital clock crackled.

And Ethan heard his own voice say, "Isabella, do what Beatriz tells you. No matter what."