Chapter 10 - THE HOUSE WITH TOO MANY CAMERAS
They called the police on the drive, but Laura did not wait for them before turning onto Hawthorn Court.
The street looked harmless under porch lights and trimmed hedges. Neighbors’ sprinklers clicked. A dog barked somewhere in the dark. It was the kind of block where danger could hide comfortably behind tasteful landscaping.
Mia’s front door was closed.
The downstairs lights were on.
Emma saw movement in the side window and unbuckled before Laura could stop her.
“Stay in the car—”
But Emma was already out.
They reached the front porch together. Laura rang the bell once, hard. No answer. She rang again.
Then the door opened.
Adrian Shaw stood there in a dark sweater and an expression so calm it was almost elegant.
Laura went still.
Emma felt her mother’s entire body lock beside her.
“Laura,” Adrian said, as if greeting an old acquaintance at a fundraiser. “I wondered when you’d finally stop circling the block and come say hello.”
Emma’s heart kicked.
Laura’s voice came out low and flat. “Where is Mia?”
Adrian looked mildly puzzled. “Upstairs, I assume. Why?”
“She texted me,” Emma said. “She sounded scared.”
Adrian’s gaze moved to Emma. Held there. A slow, assessing pause that made Laura step slightly in front of her daughter.
“You must be Emma,” he said.
The familiarity in his tone made Emma’s skin crawl.
Behind him, on the hallway wall, Emma spotted a small camera dome angled toward the stairs.
And another one near the kitchen arch.
And another above the back door.
Mia appeared at the top of the staircase then, face pale, phone clutched in one hand. “Emma.”
Relief hit so hard it nearly made Emma weak.
But Mia wasn’t relieved. She looked terrified.
Adrian glanced back at her and smiled—a tiny, warning smile.
“Why don’t we all calm down?” he said.
The police arrived before anyone moved further.
And for the first time since this began, Emma saw something crack in Adrian’s composure.
May you like
Only for a second.
But enough.
