Chapter 2 - What Happened Before the Cake
Daniel carried Lily inside and locked the back door behind him.
He wanted the party gone.
He wanted the balloons gone.
He wanted every voice outside to disappear.
But Lily would not release his shirt.
"Can we stay in my room?"
"Yes."
"No bathroom."
Daniel looked down. "What?"
Her eyes dropped.
"Don't make me go in the downstairs bathroom."
He felt cold spread through his chest.
"Why?"
Lily shook her head hard.
Daniel did not push.
"Come now."
"What happened?"
"Just come."
"Daniel! Open this door!"
He ignored her.
His phone vibrated.
Rachel had sent a video.
Thirty-eight seconds.
Daniel pressed play.
The footage began before Lily was tied.
"Tell them what you did."
Lily was crying. "I didn't do anything."
"You touched my phone."
"I was looking for Daddy."
"You read my messages."
"No."
Daniel stopped the video.
His hands were shaking.
He forced himself to continue.
Kyle appeared in frame carrying rope.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Kyle.
The same man who had told him to calm down.
In the video, Rachel could be heard saying, "Vanessa, this isn't funny."
Vanessa answered, "Then leave."
Daniel's stomach turned.
A knock came from Lily's bedroom door.
It was Megan.
"What happened?"
Daniel handed her the phone.
Megan watched the clip.
"We call the police."
"I already did."
Lily looked up quickly.
"Will they take me away?"
Daniel sat beside her.
"No. Nobody is taking you anywhere."
Lily started crying again.
"She said they would."
Daniel froze.
"Who said that?"
"Vanessa."
"What exactly did she say?"
Lily hesitated.
"She said if I told you about the bathroom, the police would think you were a bad dad and take me somewhere else."
Megan covered her mouth.
Daniel knelt.
"Lily, what happened in the bathroom?"
Then she whispered:
"That's where she makes me stand when she's mad."
Daniel felt the room tilt.
"For how long?"
"I don't know."
"Does she lock the door?"
Lily nodded.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Then his phone buzzed again.
It contained one photograph.
A black trash bag sat in Daniel's garage.
May you like
Beside it was a note.
YOU SHOULD CHECK WHAT YOUR WIFE WAS ABOUT TO THROW AWAY.
