Chapter 2
Arthur stared at Ethan.
“What’s in Maya’s closet?”
Ethan lowered his voice.
“Victoria told us never to touch it.”
Arthur stood.
One police officer remained near the front door while another escorted Victoria toward a patrol car.
Victoria saw Arthur moving toward the stairs.
Her expression changed.
“Arthur!”
He stopped.
“Don’t go upstairs.”
That was enough.
Arthur turned toward the officer.
“Stay with my children.”
Then he ran upstairs.
Ethan followed despite being told to remain downstairs.
Arthur entered Maya’s bedroom.
It looked normal.
Pink blankets.
Stuffed animals.
Crayons scattered across a little table.
Then Ethan pointed toward the closet.
“Behind the dresses.”
Arthur pushed several tiny dresses aside.
There was a small black box on the floor.
It had a lock.
Arthur looked at Ethan.
“Do you know what’s inside?”
“No. But Victoria came in here every night after you went to sleep.”
Arthur carried the box downstairs.
The moment Victoria saw it through the doorway, she started screaming.
“That’s mine!”
Arthur looked at the officer.
“Can we open this?”
Victoria shouted again.
“You need a warrant!”
The officer calmly replied, “It was found inside the child’s bedroom, and the homeowner is giving permission.”
Victoria went pale.
Arthur broke the cheap lock.
Inside were several envelopes.
Cash.
A second phone.
Photographs.
And a notebook.
Arthur picked up the photographs first.
His hands began shaking.
They showed Ethan and Maya at school.
At the playground.
Sleeping.
Eating breakfast.
Some appeared to have been taken without their knowledge.
“Why would she have these?”
Ethan whispered.
Arthur opened the notebook.
Dates were written beside both children’s names.
Beside Ethan’s name:
Disobedient. Still asking questions.
Beside Maya’s:
Easy to frighten.
Arthur felt sick.
Then he found another envelope.
Inside was a document from an attorney.
It involved custody.
Victoria had apparently been gathering information about Arthur’s parenting, finances, and work schedule.
At the bottom was a handwritten note.
If Arthur refuses, use the children.
Arthur looked toward the patrol car.
Victoria was watching the house.
Watching him.
The officer took the documents.
“We need to photograph all of this.”
Arthur nodded.
Ethan suddenly pointed at the second phone.
“That’s the one.”
Arthur turned.
“What?”
“She always used that phone after midnight.”
The officer powered it on.
It wasn’t locked.
The most recent message appeared immediately.
Did he find the box?
The officer and Arthur exchanged a look.
Another message arrived.
If he did, leave now.
Arthur’s stomach tightened.
“Who is that?”
The officer opened the conversation.
There was no name.
Only a number.
But the messages went back for months.
Victoria had been speaking to someone about Arthur’s house, children, bank accounts, and schedule.
Then Arthur saw one sentence that stopped him cold.
The insurance will be useless unless both kids are removed first.
Arthur slowly looked at Ethan.
“Insurance?”
Ethan looked frightened.
The officer immediately began making a call.
Arthur turned toward the front windows.
Across the street, a dark SUV had been parked beside the curb.
Its engine started.
The officer noticed it too.
“Sir, get the children away from the windows.”
Arthur grabbed Ethan.
“Where’s Maya?”
Ethan looked around.
She had been beside them moments earlier.
Now she was gone.
Arthur shouted her name.
No answer.
Then a small voice came from the kitchen.
“Daddy?”
Arthur ran.
Maya stood beside the back door.
The door was open.
And on the kitchen floor was a white envelope that had not been there before.
Arthur picked it up.
His name was written across the front.
May you like
Inside was one sentence.
Victoria was never the real problem.
