Chapter 4: The Camera in the Nursery
I didn't sleep that night.
At four in the morning, I was sitting at my laptop, reviewing the family security system.
I had installed cameras outside the house, in the garage, and near the front entrance.
There was also a camera in Lily's nursery.
It had originally been installed when she was an infant.
Vanessa had insisted we remove it after Lily turned two.
She said our daughter needed privacy.
I had agreed.
But I remembered something.
The camera had been connected to a cloud account.
And I had never deleted the account.
I opened the application.
The system showed recordings from the previous thirty days.
My hands were shaking.
I clicked on the first available video.
The nursery was empty.
I moved to the next recording.
Nothing unusual.
Then I found a clip from the previous Monday.
The timestamp showed 8:43 p.m.
Lily was sitting on her bed, holding a stuffed rabbit.
Vanessa entered.
"Why are you still awake?""
Lily looked up.
"I want Daddy.""
Vanessa sighed.
"Daddy is working.""
"I want to talk to Daddy.""
"He's busy.""
"Please?""
Vanessa approached the bed.
"Didn't I tell you not to ask for him?""
Lily lowered her head.
"Sorry.""
Vanessa pulled the stuffed rabbit from her arms.
"You're going to bed now.""
"But I want Bunny.""
"Then you should have listened.""
She walked out carrying the rabbit.
The video ended.
I stared at the screen.
Then I opened another recording.
Tuesday.
Vanessa entered the room holding a small plate.
There was a piece of toast on it.
She placed it on the dresser.
Lily immediately sat up.
"Is that mine?""
Vanessa shook her head.
"No. That's for later.""
Lily looked at the toast.
"Can I have some?""
"Not until you apologize.""
"I'm sorry.""
"Not like that.""
Lily started crying.
Vanessa picked up the plate and left.
I felt sick.
I moved to the next recording.
Wednesday.
At 7:16 p.m., Lily stood near the nursery door.
"Mommy, I'm hungry.""
Vanessa appeared.
"You already ate.""
"I want milk.""
"No.""
"Please?""
Vanessa pointed toward the hallway.
"Go to your room.""
Lily hesitated.
"Which room?""
Vanessa grabbed her hand.
"The little one.""
The recording continued for another thirty seconds.
Then the image went dark.
I leaned back.
My heart was pounding.
I checked the timestamp.
The camera had been covered.
I couldn't see what happened next.
But I had enough.
I downloaded the recordings.
Then I called my attorney.
His name was Daniel Brooks.
He had helped me with our house purchase and several business contracts.
He answered on the fourth ring.
"Marcus? Do you know what time it is?""
"I need your help.""
His voice changed.
"What's happened?""
I explained everything.
The garbage.
The birthday party.
The locked storage room.
The drawings.
And the recordings.
Daniel remained quiet until I finished.
Then he asked one question.
"Is your daughter safe right now?""
"She's sleeping upstairs.""
"Keep her with you. Don't confront your wife again tonight. Preserve everything you've found.""
"I want to take Lily somewhere safe.""
"Then we need to do this carefully. I'll help you contact the appropriate authorities and arrange an urgent consultation with a family-law attorney.""
I rubbed my forehead.
"Daniel, I think she's been starving my daughter.""
"Then don't waste time arguing about it. Get Lily medically evaluated and report what you've discovered.""
I nodded.
"Okay.""
"One more thing, Marcus.""
"What?""
"Don't delete those recordings. Make copies somewhere your wife cannot access.""
After the call, I downloaded every available clip.
I saved them to an encrypted drive and emailed a copy to Daniel.
Then I checked on Lily.
She was asleep, one hand resting on the stuffed rabbit.
I sat beside her bed.
For a long time, I simply watched her breathe.
At seven, I prepared breakfast.
Pancakes.
Scrambled eggs.
Strawberries.
Milk.
Lily came downstairs wearing pajamas.
She stopped at the kitchen entrance.
I smiled.
"Good morning, sweetheart.""
She looked at the table.
"Is Mommy awake?""
"She's still sleeping.""
Lily approached slowly.
"Can I sit?""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Of course.""
She climbed into her chair.
I placed a pancake on her plate.
She looked at it.
Then she looked at me.
"Can I have two?""
"Baby, you can have as many as you want.""
She picked up her fork.
Then she asked a question that nearly made me cry.
"Do I have to finish before Mommy sees?""
I put my hand over hers.
"No. You don't have to hide your food.""
She stared at me.
"Promise?""
"Promise.""
She took a bite.
For the first time since I had come home, she smiled.
Then I heard footsteps.
Vanessa entered the kitchen.
She looked at the table.
"What's all this?""
"Breakfast.""
"I can see that.""
She opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle of water.
Then she noticed Lily's plate.
"That's a lot of food.""
I didn't respond.
Vanessa looked at our daughter.
"Don't eat too quickly. You'll make yourself sick.""
Lily immediately stopped chewing.
I watched the change in her face.
"She's fine," I said.
Vanessa turned toward me.
"Don't contradict me in front of her.""
"Then don't make her afraid to eat.""
Her eyes narrowed.
She set the bottle down.
"Are you still on this?""
I placed my fork on the table.
"Yes.""
"Marcus, I have a life too. I have needs. I have responsibilities. You can't just come home and turn everything upside down.""
I looked at her.
"What responsibilities?""
She stared at me.
"Excuse me?""
"Name one thing you've done this week that explains why our daughter is hungry and terrified.""
Vanessa laughed bitterly.
"You think money makes you a good father?""
"No.""
"Then stop acting like you're some hero.""
I glanced at Lily.
She was looking down at her plate again.
I lowered my voice.
"We're taking her to the doctor today.""
Vanessa's expression changed.
"Why?""
"Because I want her checked.""
"There's nothing wrong with her.""
"That's for the doctor to determine.""
She stepped closer.
"You're not taking her anywhere.""
I stood.
"Yes, I am.""
She reached for her phone.
"Fine. I'll call my sister.""
"Call whoever you want.""
I picked up my keys.
But as I turned toward the hallway, I heard Lily whisper.
"Daddy?""
I looked back.
She was holding her fork.
"Can Bunny come too?""
I smiled gently.
"Of course, baby.""
I didn't know that a few minutes later, I would discover something even more disturbing.
Because when I reached for Lily's little backpack, I noticed a folded piece of paper sticking out of the front pocket.
It was a handwritten note.
And the handwriting wasn't Lily's.
It was Vanessa's.
May you like
The note contained six words.
*If Daddy comes home, don't tell him.*
