Chapter 2: The Recording
The recording lasted eleven minutes.
I only made it through thirty seconds before I wanted to smash the phone against the wall.
Claire's voice came through the tiny speaker, unmistakable.
Cold.
Controlled.
Nothing like the warm voice she used when neighbors were listening.
“You're going to tell your father that you fell down the stairs.””
A child's voice trembled in response.
Maya.
“I didn't fall.””
“I know.””
“Then why do I have to say that?””
“Because if you don't, something much worse will happen.””
I stopped the recording.
The room felt too small.
Claire stared at me.
Rebecca stared at Claire.
Maya had pulled the blanket up to her chin.
“Dad?””
I turned toward her.
She was watching my face.
Waiting to see whether I was angry with her.
I crouched beside the bed.
“Baby, why didn't you tell me?””
Her lip trembled.
“Because Mommy said you'd go away.””
My chest tightened.
“What?””
“She said if I told you things, you'd leave us.””
Claire spoke quickly.
“That isn't what happened.””
I stood.
“Then what happened?””
“She was having a nightmare.””
“I just heard you threatening our daughter.””
“I wasn't threatening her.””
“You said something worse would happen.””
Claire folded her arms.
“She was lying to her teacher about me.””
Maya whispered, “I wasn't.””
Claire looked at her.
“Maya.””
The girl shrank into the bed.
I stepped closer to Claire.
“Don't.””
Claire's jaw tightened.
“You have no idea what she's been doing.””
“She's eight.””
“She knows exactly what she's doing.””
“She hid a phone in her backpack because she was scared of you.””
Claire's eyes moved to the phone.
For the first time since we'd arrived, she looked genuinely frightened.
I noticed.
And suddenly I wanted to know why.
I picked up the phone.
“Whose is it?””
Claire didn't answer.
“Claire.””
“I don't know.””
“It's unlocked.””
“So?””
“So someone recorded you with it.””
“I never touched that phone.””
I looked at Maya.
“Who gave this to you?””
She hesitated.
“Uncle Mark.””
My stomach dropped.
Mark was Claire's older brother.
He lived across town.
I hadn't spoken to him in months.
“What did Uncle Mark say?””
Maya swallowed.
“He said I should keep it where Mommy wouldn't find it.””
Claire's face changed.
“You saw Mark?””
Maya nodded.
“When?””
“Last Saturday.””
Claire stepped forward.
“That wasn't—”
I held up my hand.
“Let her talk.””
Maya continued.
“Uncle Mark said Daddy needed to hear the truth.””
Claire's voice rose.
“Mark has been filling her head with lies!””
“Then why did he give her a recording device?””
“Because he hates me.””
I stared at my wife.
“Why?””
Claire laughed bitterly.
“You know what Mark is like.””
“No. I know what you've told me about Mark.””
She looked away.
I had always accepted Claire's explanation.
Her brother was unstable.
Her brother was jealous.
Her brother had money problems.
Her brother had once accused Claire of stealing from their mother's estate.
I had believed Claire.
Now I wasn't sure I believed anything.
Rebecca stepped closer.
“Mr. Carter?””
I looked at her.
“Maya's pain is real. We need to focus on that first.””
I nodded.
“Right.””
She examined Maya again.
Then she asked, “Sweetheart, did anyone give you medicine?””
Maya's eyes went to Claire.
Rebecca noticed.
“Did your mommy give you anything?””
Maya shook her head.
Claire answered immediately.
“Just children's ibuprofen.””
“How much?””
“Two tablets.””
“What time?””
Claire hesitated.
“Around eight.””
I checked the clock.
It was nearly eleven.
Maya had been hurting for hours.
Rebecca left to speak with the doctor.
I remained beside my daughter.
Claire stood near the door.
Neither of us spoke.
Then the phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
*UNKNOWN NUMBER: DID YOU FIND THE SECOND RECORDING?*
I stared at it.
Claire saw the screen.
Her face drained of color.
“Give me the phone.””
I stepped backward.
“No.””
“Daniel.””
“Who's texting?””
“I don't know.””
Another message appeared.
*DON'T LET CLAIRE LEAVE WITH MAYA.*
My heart slammed against my ribs.
I looked at Claire.
She shook her head.
“This is insane.””
A third message appeared.
*ASK HER ABOUT THE STORAGE UNIT.*
I slowly raised my eyes.
“What storage unit?””
Claire said nothing.
“Claire.””
She looked toward the hallway.
Then toward Maya.
Then back at me.
And for the first time in our twelve-year marriage, my wife looked like someone who was trapped.
The door opened.
A doctor walked in.
“Mr. Carter?””
“Yes?””
“I need to talk to you about your daughter's test results.””
He looked at Claire.
“Privately.””
Claire immediately stepped forward.
“I'm her mother. I'm staying.””
The doctor shook his head.
“No.””
Claire's face hardened.
“Excuse me?””
“We found something in Maya's bloodwork that needs further investigation.””
I felt cold.
“What did you find?””
The doctor glanced at the chart.
“An unusual concentration of a medication that wasn't listed on her intake form.””
Maya started crying.
Claire whispered,
“No.””
The doctor looked at her.
“What?””
Claire's lips parted.
But before she could answer, Maya suddenly grabbed my wrist.
“Dad…”
“What?””
“Don't let Mommy go to the red door.””
I stared at her.
“What red door?””
She looked at Claire.
May you like
Then whispered,
“The one at Uncle Mark's storage place.””
