Chapter 2: The Secret in the Security Footage
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
I stared at the photograph on my phone.
Ivy stood on our front porch, barefoot, her arms wrapped around herself. Rainwater ran down her hair and soaked the sleeves of her pajamas.
The timestamp read 11:48 p.m.
Thanksgiving night.
I remembered that night.
I had worked a twelve-hour shift at the hospital. Vanessa had told me Ivy went to bed early because she had a headache.
Apparently, that wasn't what happened.
"Dad?""
I looked down.
Ivy was watching my face.
"What's wrong?""
I locked my phone.
"Nothing you need to worry about right now.""
Vanessa approached, her voice suddenly sweet.
"Daniel, please. Let's talk privately.""
I didn't answer.
She glanced at Ivy.
"Sweetheart, why don't you go sit with Mason and Chloe? Your father and I need to discuss something.""
Ivy immediately grabbed my hand.
"No.""
The word was quiet, but it came out with surprising urgency.
Vanessa's eyebrows lifted.
"Excuse me?""
Ivy moved closer to my leg.
"I want to stay with Dad.""
Something about the way she said it made my chest ache.
"She stays with me," I said.
Vanessa sighed dramatically.
"You're encouraging this behavior.""
I looked at her.
"What behavior?""
"Being disrespectful. Refusing to follow instructions. Making everything about herself.""
Ivy lowered her head.
I crouched beside her.
"Sweetheart, did you do something wrong on Thanksgiving?""
She shook her head.
"Did Vanessa tell you to go outside?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"She said I was being noisy.""
I felt my jaw tighten.
"Tell me exactly what happened.""
Vanessa interrupted.
"Daniel, children exaggerate. You know how emotional Ivy can be.""
I stood up.
"Don't speak for her.""
Ivy swallowed.
"Chloe wanted to watch a movie with Mom. I asked if I could watch too, but Vanessa said I wasn't invited.""
"Then what?""
"She said I kept bothering them. She told me to go to the porch until I could behave.""
"For how long?""
Ivy looked at the floor.
"I don't know.""
Vanessa laughed nervously.
"This is absurd. She was outside for maybe two minutes.""
I looked at the photograph again.
The timestamp was clear.
Eleven forty-eight.
I opened the message thread and called Mrs. Patterson.
She answered immediately.
"Daniel?""
"What's going on?""
There was a pause.
"I've been worried about Ivy.""
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"I tried. Vanessa always answered the door when I came over. And whenever I asked Ivy how she was doing, she looked at Vanessa before answering.""
I closed my eyes.
"What happened Thanksgiving night?""
"I saw Ivy outside. I was taking my dog out when I noticed her standing in the rain.""
"How long?""
"At least twenty minutes before I came over. I brought her inside my porch and gave her a towel. She was shaking.""
My grip tightened around the phone.
"Why didn't you call me?""
"I did. Vanessa told me you were busy and that Ivy had already gone back inside.""
"Did you see her go back?""
"No. Vanessa came out and took her home.""
I looked at my wife.
She was watching me carefully.
"Can you send me the full footage?""
"I already did. There's something else, Daniel.""
"What?""
Mrs. Patterson hesitated.
"After you left for work last night, I heard Ivy crying. It sounded like she was begging someone to open a door.""
My stomach turned.
"Last night?""
"Yes.""
I looked toward the storage room.
The same room where I had found my daughter that morning.
"Thank you," I whispered.
"Daniel, please. Don't leave her alone with this.""
"I won't.""
I ended the call.
Vanessa stood with her hands on her hips.
"Are you seriously listening to that woman? She's a lonely widow who watches everybody's business.""
I stared at her.
"She has video.""
Vanessa's expression flickered.
Just for a moment.
Then she laughed.
"Video of what? A child standing on a porch? You're going to destroy our marriage over that?""
I didn't answer.
Instead, I opened the footage Mrs. Patterson had sent.
The video showed our front porch from an angle across the street.
Ivy appeared at 11:46 p.m.
She knocked.
Once.
Twice.
Then she looked through the glass.
The front door opened.
Vanessa stood there wearing her Christmas-themed pajamas.
Even without sound, I could see her mouth moving.
Ivy tried to step inside.
Vanessa blocked the doorway.
Then she pointed toward the porch.
Ivy shook her head.
Vanessa stepped outside, grabbed her arm, and pushed her back.
The door closed.
I watched it twice.
Then a third time.
"Daniel," Vanessa said sharply, "turn that off.""
I looked at her.
"Why?""
"Because you're making me look like a monster.""
"You put my daughter outside in the rain.""
"She was misbehaving!""
"She was eight years old?""
"Ten! And old enough to understand rules!""
Ivy began crying again.
I crouched and held her hand.
"Sweetheart, did she do this other times?""
Ivy didn't answer.
"Did she ever make you sleep somewhere other than your bedroom?""
Her silence was enough to make my stomach drop.
Finally, she whispered, "Sometimes.""
Vanessa immediately raised her voice.
"She is lying!""
I turned.
"That's enough.""
"You have no idea how difficult she is when you're gone.""
"Then explain why she has to be locked in a storage room.""
"Because she refuses to listen!""
"She's a child, Vanessa.""
"And Mason and Chloe are children too! Why does she get special treatment?""
I looked at her.
"Because she's my daughter.""
The room fell silent.
Vanessa's expression hardened.
"Well, maybe that's the problem.""
I didn't understand.
"What?""
"Maybe you never wanted a real family. Maybe you just wanted someone to take care of you and your little princess.""
I felt Ivy's hand tighten around mine.
I reached for her coat.
"We're leaving.""
Vanessa stepped in front of the door.
"You're not taking my children away from their mother.""
"I'm not taking your children anywhere. I'm taking my daughter somewhere safe.""
"She's perfectly safe here!""
I pointed toward the storage room.
"Does that look safe to you?""
Vanessa's face flushed.
Then Mason appeared in the hallway, holding his new controller.
"Mom, are we still going to Grandma's?""
"Not now, Mason!""
He looked at me.
"Is Ivy in trouble again?""
I froze.
"Again?""
Mason shrugged.
"Mom always puts her in the little room when she doesn't listen.""
Vanessa spun around.
"Mason, go to your bedroom!""
"But you said—"
"NOW!""
He ran away.
I stared at Vanessa.
"How often?""
She said nothing.
Ivy tugged my sleeve.
"Dad, can we go?""
That was all I needed.
I picked her up, grabbed her coat, and walked outside.
The cold air hit my face.
I placed Ivy in the passenger seat, buckled her in, and turned on the heater.
Before starting the engine, I looked through the windshield.
Vanessa stood in the doorway.
She wasn't crying.
She wasn't apologizing.
She was typing furiously on her phone.
Then mine rang.
An unfamiliar number.
I answered.
"Hello?""
A man's voice came through.
"Daniel Carter?""
"Yes.""
"My name is Robert. I'm Vanessa's brother.""
I frowned.
"Okay.""
"I heard you took Ivy and left the house.""
"How did you get my number?""
"That's not important. Listen carefully. Vanessa says you're having some kind of breakdown.""
I looked at Ivy.
She was staring out the window, rubbing her hands together.
"What does she want?""
Robert lowered his voice.
"She wants you to come back before you do something you'll regret.""
I almost laughed.
"Your sister locked a ten-year-old girl in a storage room.""
There was silence.
Then he said something unexpected.
"Daniel, I know.""
My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
"What do you mean, you know?""
"I've seen it before.""
"Seen what?""
He hesitated.
"Vanessa didn't just start treating Ivy this way after you married her.""
My heart began pounding.
"What are you talking about?""
May you like
Robert took a breath.
"There's something you need to know about what happened to her first marriage.""
