Chapter 3: The Red Door
The doctor wanted Maya admitted for observation.
I wanted to stay beside her.
Claire wanted to leave.
That was the first thing we argued about.
“You can't just walk out,” I said.
“I need air.””
“You need to explain what's happening.””
“I don't owe you an explanation for every thought that crosses my mind.””
“You've been drugging our daughter.””
Her eyes flashed.
“I gave her ibuprofen.””
“The doctor found something else.””
“I don't know anything about that.””
“Then stay.””
She grabbed her purse.
“I am not being interrogated in a hospital.””
I stepped in front of the door.
“Where are you going?””
“Home.””
“Why?””
“Because I have clothes there.””
“You're not going anywhere until we figure this out.””
Claire stared at me.
Then she said quietly,
“You really think I would hurt my own daughter?””
I didn't answer.
Her eyes filled with tears.
But something about them felt wrong.
Not grief.
Fear.
“You're making a mistake,” she whispered.
“Maybe.””
“You'll regret this.””
Then she walked out.
I watched her disappear down the hallway.
The doctor came back.
“Mr. Carter, we need to run additional tests.””
“Do it.””
“There's something else.””
“What?””
He lowered his voice.
“The medication we found isn't something we'd expect from an accidental exposure.””
My hands went cold.
“Could someone have given it to her?””
“Yes.””
I looked through the doorway.
Claire was gone.
“Can you tell when?””
“Not precisely.””
“How dangerous is it?””
“That depends on the substance and amount. We're running confirmation tests.””
I sat beside Maya.
She looked tiny beneath the hospital blanket.
Her red backpack rested on the chair.
I couldn't stop staring at it.
“What else is in there?”” I asked.
Maya closed her eyes.
“There's a pocket.””
“What pocket?””
“Behind the rabbit.””
I lifted the stuffed rabbit.
Nothing.
I felt along the fabric.
Then I found a zipper I had never noticed.
I opened it.
Inside was a folded piece of paper.
My name was written on it.
*DADDY*
My hands shook as I unfolded it.
The handwriting was Maya's.
Daddy,
Mommy told me not to tell you.
She said if I did, you would go away.
But Uncle Mark said you deserved to know.
Please don't be mad.
I didn't do anything bad.
I love you.
Below that was an address.
A storage facility.
Unit 314.
And beneath it, one sentence:
*The red door.*
I looked at Maya.
“Why is there a red door?””
She opened her eyes.
“That's where Mommy keeps the boxes.””
“What boxes?””
“The ones from Grandma's house.””
I frowned.
Claire's mother had died two years earlier.
Afterward, Claire had taken care of everything.
The estate.
The paperwork.
The valuables.
She told me there wasn't much money.
A modest house.
Some furniture.
A few pieces of jewelry.
She said most of it went to taxes and medical bills.
I had never questioned her.
“Why does Mommy keep them?””
Maya whispered,
“She doesn't want you to know.””
“Know what?””
Maya's eyes filled with tears.
“That Grandma left you something.””
I stared at her.
“What?””
“She told me.””
“When?””
“Before she died.””
I felt like the floor had tilted.
Claire's mother had been sick for months before her death.
I had visited her often.
She had always been kind to me.
But there had been one strange moment near the end.
She had taken my hand.
She had tried to say something.
Claire had entered the room.
And her mother had stopped.
At the time, I thought she was simply tired.
Now I wondered.
The hospital lights hummed overhead.
I picked up my phone.
There was one contact I could call.
Mark.
I hadn't spoken to him since our argument after the funeral.
I called.
He answered on the third ring.
“Daniel?””
“Where are you?””
Silence.
Then Mark asked,
“Is Maya with you?””
“Yes.””
“Is Claire there?””
“No.””
Another pause.
“Good.””
“Mark, what is going on?””
“I told you she'd eventually do this.””
“Do what?””
“Turn Maya against you?””
“No. Hurt her.””
His breathing changed.
“Daniel…”
“Tell me.””
“I don't know how much you know.””
“Not enough.””
“You found the phone?””
“Yes.””
“And the note?””
“Yes.””
Mark swore under his breath.
“What?””
“I hoped she'd never have to use it.””
“Who gave Maya the phone?””
“I did.””
“Why?””
“Because I found out what Claire was doing.””
“What was she doing?””
“I need you to come to the storage facility.””
“Why?””
“Because the proof is there.””
I looked at Maya.
“When?””
“Tonight.””
“Mark, I need answers now.””
“You'll get them.””
His voice dropped.
“But whatever you do, don't let Claire get to Unit 314.””
The line went dead.
I sat there, staring at the phone.
Then Maya whispered,
“Daddy?””
“Yeah?””
“Uncle Mark said Mommy would come.””
“When?””
Maya looked toward the door.
“She always comes when the red light turns on.””
I frowned.
“What red light?””
Before she could answer, my phone buzzed.
A message from the hospital security desk.
*YOUR WIFE IS REQUESTING ACCESS TO YOUR DAUGHTER'S ROOM.*
May you like
I stood.
“She found us.””
