Chapter 2 - The Camera Behind the ClockAt 8:42 p.m., I received a photograph.
It showed my living room.
The photograph had been taken from outside the house.
Someone had zoomed in through the window.
In the corner sat the old wooden clock my late wife had bought at a flea market.
I stared at the image.
"Zoom."
My contact sent another.
Then another.
There.
A reflection in the clock's glass.
A tiny black lens.
My heart stopped.
There was a camera inside my house.
Not one of mine.
I had designed the home security system myself.
I trusted no commercial system with my family's privacy.
But this camera wasn't connected to anything I recognized.
I called Claire.
My wife's sister answered on the third ring.
"How's Sophia?"
"In the hospital."
"I know. Sarah called me."
My voice hardened.
"Where is Sarah?"
"She went back to the house."
"Is Lucas with her?"
"Yes."
"Don't go there."
Claire went silent.
"Why?"
"Because I don't know who else is there."
"What are you talking about?"
"I'll explain later."
I ended the call.
At 9:05, I returned to my house.
Two black SUVs were parked half a block away.
No markings.
No headlights.
I walked past without looking at them.
Inside, Sarah was sitting on the couch.
She looked annoyed.
Not frightened.
Annoyed.
"You took long enough."
I stared at her.
"You left my daughter outside."
"She was coughing."
"You locked the door."
"Because Lucas has asthma."
"You poured ice water over her."
Sarah shrugged.
"She'll survive."
My jaw tightened.
Behind her, Lucas was sitting at the kitchen table.
He looked terrified.
That was interesting.
Children didn't react to family arguments with that expression.
They reacted to threats.
I crouched in front of him.
"Lucas."
Sarah snapped.
"Don't question my son."
"I wasn't questioning him."
Lucas looked at me.
Then his eyes flicked toward the hallway.
Just for a second.
But I saw it.
Fear.
I stood.
"Where's Claire?"
"She isn't here."
"Where is she?"
Sarah rolled her eyes.
"I don't know."
My phone vibrated.
A coded message.
SECOND CAMERA FOUND. BEDROOM HALLWAY.
I looked around the room.
Sarah had no idea.
"Who installed the cameras?" I asked.
She laughed.
"What cameras?"
"Exactly."
Her smile disappeared.
For the first time, I saw something besides arrogance.
I saw calculation.
She knew.
Maybe not everything.
But enough.
The front door opened.
Two men entered.
They looked like ordinary contractors.
Jeans.
Work boots.
Dark jackets.
One carried a toolbox.
They nodded at me.
"Mr. Reed?"
I stepped aside.
"Come in."
Sarah stood.
"Who are they?"
"Electricians."
"We didn't call electricians."
"I did."
They moved silently through the house.
Three minutes later, one returned.
He placed a tiny black device on the table.
"This was hidden inside the wall behind the clock."
Sarah's face drained of color.
The man continued.
"It isn't a commercial camera."
I looked at Sarah.
"Who gave it to you?"
She shook her head.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The man placed another device beside the first.
"Then you should explain this."
A small tracker.
It had been attached beneath my truck.
I looked at the date on the device.
It had been installed six weeks earlier.
Six weeks.
The same week Sophia had started waking up crying.
The same week she began refusing to sleep alone.
The same week Sarah had started spending more time in my house.
I felt something cold settle inside me.
Someone had been inside our lives for weeks.
My phone rang.
Hospital.
I answered immediately.
"Mr. Reed?"
"Yes."
"It's about Sophia."
I held my breath.
"She woke up."
Relief rushed through me.
Then the nurse continued.
"She keeps asking for you."
I smiled.
"Put her on."
A tiny voice came through the phone.
"Daddy?"
"I'm here, baby."
There was a pause.
Then she whispered:
"Daddy..."
"What?"
"I know the man who put the cameras here."
My blood turned to ice.
"Who?"
May you like
She started crying.
"The man Aunt Sarah says we're never supposed to tell."
