Chapter 1 - WATCH THIS FIRST
The iron was already hot.
June Keller understood that one fact before she understood anything else.
She had been halfway down the upstairs hall of the Whitcomb house when Eli’s crying changed.
Ten-month-old babies cried for dozens of reasons.
Hungry.
Tired.
Startled.
Angry because somebody had taken away a wooden spoon.
This was different.
A sharp scream came from the nursery.
June ran.
She crossed the doorway and saw Marcus Shaw standing beside the gold metal crib.
One hand held an electric iron.
The other rested against the crib rail.
Eli was inside in pale-blue pajamas, crying hard.
Marcus lowered the iron.
Straight onto the baby’s small hand.
A sickening hiss.
Eli screamed.
June did not think.
She drove one hard kick into Marcus’s forearm.
His arm snapped sideways.
The iron flew from his hand.
It struck the cream wall hard enough to crack the plaster, dropped onto the dark wood floor, and landed across a white towel.
The towel immediately began to smoke.
Then flame.
Marcus staggered sideways.
He looked at June with naked fury.
“He needs to learn.”
June stared at him.
For one second, she could not process the sentence.
Then Eli cried again.
Weakly now.
June shoved past Marcus.
She reached into the crib and scooped Eli against her chest.
His little body shook.
She looked at his hand.
Fresh injury across the skin.
“OH MY GOD—ELI!”
His crying weakened.
His head dropped against her shoulder.
Too heavy.
Too quiet.
“Eli?”
June bounced him gently.
“Stay with me, sweetheart. Eli.”
Marcus regained his balance.
June turned.
He stepped forward.
Then slapped her hard across the face.
June staggered.
Her shoulder hit the crib rail.
She kept both arms around Eli.
The nursery door suddenly flew open.
Caleb Whitcomb rushed inside.
Navy suit.
Tie loose.
Phone still in one hand.
He had been downstairs taking a work call when he heard the screaming.
He stopped.
His son limp against June’s shoulder.
June’s cheek bright red.
A burning towel on the floor.
The iron nearby.
Marcus saw Caleb.
Everything about him changed.
His shoulders dropped.
His face opened in horror.
He pointed at June.
“SHE SNAPPED—SHE HURT THE BABY!”
Caleb looked at Eli.
Then June.
“What?”
June shook her head.
“No.”
Marcus stepped behind Caleb.
“I walked in and she had the iron—”
“That’s a lie.”
Caleb stormed toward June.
He ripped Eli out of her arms.
His son made a small sound against his chest.
Caleb saw the hand.
His expression broke.
“WHAT DID YOU DO?!”
“Caleb, listen to me—”
He kicked her.
One hard kick into the stomach.
June’s breath disappeared.
Her body went backward into the wooden clothing rack.
The rack cracked beneath her.
Wooden rails collapsed.
Children’s jackets and blankets fell across her.
June hit the floor among broken pieces of wood.
Pain folded her in half.
Caleb remained standing with Eli against one arm.
Marcus stood behind him.
Watching.
Not panicked anymore.
June saw that.
She also saw the small black security camera mounted high above the nursery doorway.
Then she remembered what was in her blouse pocket.
She forced one hand beneath her clothing.
Her fingers found plastic.
The small USB drive.
She pulled it out.
Raised it toward Caleb.
Her voice barely worked.
“WATCH THIS FIRST.”
May you like
Caleb froze.
Marcus’s face instantly drained of color.
