Chapter 2 - THE LOCKED BEDROOM
Ryan did not confront Vanessa immediately.
A soldier who revealed his suspicions too early surrendered the advantage. He had learned that from his father long before the military gave the lesson a name.
Observe first.
Confirm second.
Act only when the truth can no longer be buried.
Vanessa led him upstairs while Daniel remained near the front door. Ryan counted three additional cameras along the hallway. One faced the staircase. One watched the guest room. The final camera pointed directly toward Helen’s bedroom door.
The camera was not there for Helen’s safety.
It was there to see who entered.
Vanessa stopped outside the bedroom and placed her hand against Ryan’s chest.
“She may not recognize you.”
Ryan looked at her hand until she removed it.
“What medication is she taking?”
“I already told you. Daniel handles that.”
“You said he helps.”
“Same thing.”
“No, it isn’t.”
Vanessa reached for the doorknob.
The door was locked.
Ryan stared at it.
Vanessa took a key from a chain around her neck.
“It keeps her from wandering.”
“You locked my mother inside her bedroom?”
“Only when she sleeps.”
“It’s two in the afternoon.”
“She sleeps at unusual times.”
Vanessa opened the door.
The room was dim despite the daylight outside. Heavy curtains covered the windows. The bedside lamp cast a yellow circle across the white bedding.
Helen lay facing the wall.
Her silver hair was unwashed. A glass of water sat untouched on the nightstand. Beside it were three white tablets in a plastic cup with no label.
Ryan stepped inside.
“Mom?”
Helen’s shoulders tightened.
He approached slowly.
“It’s Ryan.”
She turned her head.
For one terrible second, her expression remained empty.
Then her eyes filled with recognition.
“My boy.”
Ryan sat beside her.
Helen attempted to rise, but Vanessa hurried forward.
“Don’t let her stand. She’s weak.”
Helen immediately stopped moving.
Ryan noticed the fear in that reaction.
He took his mother’s hand.
Her fingers were cold.
“I came as soon as I knew,” he said.
“You weren’t supposed to come yet.”
Vanessa made a sharp sound behind him.
Helen glanced toward her.
Ryan lowered his voice.
“Who told you that?”
Helen’s lips moved, but no words came.
Vanessa opened the medicine drawer.
“She becomes confused after waking. It’s best not to question her.”
Ryan looked at the plastic cup.
“What are those?”
“Her afternoon medication.”
“What medication?”
Vanessa picked up the cup.
“Something to help her rest.”
“She just woke up.”
“She needs sleep.”
Ryan stood between Vanessa and the bed.
“I’ll handle it.”
“You don’t know her schedule.”
“I know my mother.”
Vanessa held his gaze.
The room became quiet.
Helen’s fingers tightened around Ryan’s sleeve.
Vanessa eventually placed the cup back on the nightstand.
“Fine. I’ll give you a few minutes.”
She left the room, but the door remained open.
Daniel stood at the far end of the hallway.
Ryan sat again.
Helen stared at the camera above the bedroom door.
He followed her gaze.
Then he leaned close as though embracing her.
“Can they hear us?” he whispered.
Helen nodded against his shoulder.
“Are you in danger?”
Another small nod.
“Did Vanessa hurt you?”
Helen began to shake.
Ryan did not ask again.
He released her and spoke at a normal volume.
“I brought you something from the base.”
He opened his travel bag and removed a small framed photograph. It showed him and Helen at his graduation ceremony. His father had died six months before that picture was taken, and Helen had worn his wedding ring on a chain around her neck.
Ryan placed the photograph beside the lamp.
Helen looked at it.
Tears appeared in her eyes.
Vanessa returned almost immediately.
“That frame has glass,” she said. “It isn’t safe.”
Ryan did not move it.
“My mother has owned glass objects for eighty years.”
“She broke a mirror last month.”
“Did she?”
Vanessa’s face changed slightly.
Ryan had not accused her of lying. He had only asked the question.
But Vanessa heard the accusation anyway.
Helen suddenly coughed.
Ryan reached for the water, but Vanessa took it first.
“This needs to be replaced.”
She carried the glass into the bathroom.
Ryan heard liquid pouring into the sink.
Vanessa returned with fresh water from a sealed bottle.
Ryan memorized the brand.
Helen drank only after Vanessa told her to.
That frightened him more than the locked door.
Later that evening, Vanessa prepared dinner in the renovated kitchen. Daniel left through the back door without saying goodbye. Ryan watched him enter a dark blue van with no company logo.
The license plate was partially hidden beneath mud.
Ryan photographed it from the window.
Vanessa placed a plate in front of him.
“You’ve been quiet.”
“I’m tired.”
“I warned you that Helen had changed.”
Ryan cut into the chicken.
“Who prepared the emergency leave request?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who had access to her medical information?”
“Several people.”
“Name one.”
Vanessa set down her fork.
“Are you investigating me?”
“No.”
The word came easily.
Vanessa relaxed.
Ryan continued eating.
After dinner, she poured two glasses of wine.
Ryan declined his.
“You don’t drink anymore?” she asked.
“Not tonight.”
“Because of your mother?”
“Because I don’t know what’s in the glass.”
Vanessa froze.
Ryan smiled faintly.
“Military habit.”
She laughed, but the sound was strained.
At ten, Vanessa showed him to the guest room instead of his old bedroom.
“Your room is being used for storage,” she explained.
Ryan closed the door behind him.
He waited twenty minutes.
Then he placed a towel along the bottom of the door to block the hallway light. He removed his tactical watch, connected it to his phone, and activated its secure recording feature.
The watch could store hours of audio and automatically transfer encrypted copies to a protected server.
Captain Ward had recommended it after equipment disappeared during training exercises.
Ryan had never expected to use it inside his mother’s house.
At 11:17, he heard footsteps.
Two people entered the room across the hallway.
Vanessa spoke first.
“He came too early.”
Daniel answered.
“You said the leave request would be delayed.”
“It should have been.”
“What did Helen tell him?”
“Nothing yet.”
Ryan moved closer to the wall.
Daniel lowered his voice.
“The signatures are done. Move her tomorrow.”
“Not until Ryan leaves.”
“He won’t leave.”
“Then give him a reason.”
A drawer opened.
Paper rustled.
Daniel asked, “Does he know about Caroline?”
Vanessa did not answer immediately.
Ryan held his breath.
Finally, she said, “Caroline is no longer a problem.”
A third voice came through a phone speaker.
A woman.
Weak, frightened, and unfamiliar.
“You promised you wouldn’t hurt Helen.”
Vanessa replied coldly.
“You should have thought of that before you kept copies.”
Ryan activated the watch recorder.
May you like
The tiny red light blinked once.
Then someone knocked on the guest room door.
