My Daughter Pointed at Her Toys and Whispered, “It Watches My Room”

Glass sprayed across the floor.

Daniel dropped behind the island and covered Lily with his body.

Price drew his weapon.

Another impact hit the wall above them.

"Down!"

The security contractors killed the lights.

Marcus crawled toward the hallway.

Claire screamed, "Lily!"

"She's with me!"

A smoke canister rolled through the broken window.

White smoke filled the kitchen.

Daniel could barely see his own hands.

He heard boots on the back deck.

Price shouted, "Police! Drop it!"

A struggle.

A shot.

Then silence.

Daniel grabbed Lily and moved toward the pantry.

A masked man appeared through the smoke.

Daniel drove into him shoulder-first.

They slammed against the refrigerator.

The man grabbed for the hard drive in Daniel's jacket.

So that was the target.

Daniel twisted, caught the man's wrist, and forced it against the counter until the knife fell.

Claire kicked it away.

Price emerged and pinned the attacker.

Outside, tires screamed.

The second attacker escaped.

The captured man said nothing.

But in his pocket police found an employee badge from Hale Residential.

The same company that renovated the house.

Price read the badge twice, then turned it over. On the back, beneath the employee number, was a handwritten code: C-7. Daniel felt a cold line move down his spine. The cameras had been numbered C-1 through C-3. The hidden archive had been marked C-4. Whatever the system was, it had not stopped with the devices inside Lily's room. It extended to people.

Price looked at Daniel. "Margaret knows we found the archive. The exchange is blown."

Daniel checked the clock.

Twelve minutes.

The burner phone rang again.

This time the screen showed a video call.

Daniel answered.

Rose appeared, crying but alive.

"Daniel?"

"Rose, listen to me. Are you hurt?"

She shook her head.

Someone off-camera grabbed her shoulder.

Margaret stepped into view.