Chapter 2
The Locked Room
I didn't stop walking until I reached the private elevator.
Lily's small body trembled against mine.
I pressed the button.
Then kissed her forehead.
"You're safe, sweetheart."
She looked up at me.
Her dark eyes were filled with tears.
"Daddy stay?"
My heart broke.
"Always."
The elevator opened.
I stepped inside and pressed the button for our suite.
Only then did I notice how tightly Lily was holding my jacket.
Her little fingers were almost white.
I gently loosened them.
"It's okay, baby."
She shook her head.
"No dark."
I felt cold.
Those two words again.
I looked at her.
"Princess, were you somewhere dark today?"
She buried her face against me.
I didn't press her.
She was only two.
Whatever happened needed to be handled carefully.
And I was terrified of frightening her further.
When we reached the suite, I called my mother.
"Evelyn?"
"Marcus, honey?"
Her voice was warm.
Then she heard mine.
"What's wrong?"
I swallowed.
"I need you."
She didn't hesitate.
"Where are you?"
"Grand Meridian Hotel. Suite 1408."
"I'm coming."
I ended the call.
Then I helped Lily change into her pajamas.
Her little white dress was wrinkled.
One sleeve had a small dark stain.
I noticed something else.
A faint red mark circled her wrist.
My stomach tightened.
I crouched beside her.
"Sweetheart, what happened here?"
She looked down.
Then whispered, "Nessa."
My breath caught.
Vanessa.
Lily couldn't pronounce her full name yet.
She always called her Nessa.
I fought to remain calm.
"Did Nessa hold your hand?"
Lily nodded.
Then pulled her wrist close to her chest.
"No, Daddy."
I stopped asking.
I photographed the mark.
Then called the hotel's security desk.
A man answered.
"Security office. Arthur Brooks speaking."
I took a breath.
"My name is Marcus Williams. My daughter may have been mistreated on this property today."
His tone changed.
"Mr. Williams?"
"Yes."
A pause followed.
Then he asked, "Is Lily safe?"
My heart stopped.
"How do you know my daughter's name?"
He hesitated.
"Sir, I was hoping you'd contact us."
I sat down.
"What happened?"
Arthur lowered his voice.
"Someone reported an incident near the west service corridor."
My stomach tightened.
"What incident?"
"Your daughter was found alone inside a supply room."
The words hit me like a punch.
I looked toward Lily.
She was sitting on the bed holding her stuffed rabbit.
"Inside?"
"Yes, sir."
My hands began shaking.
"Was the door locked?"
Arthur paused.
"From the outside."
I couldn't breathe.
For several seconds, I heard nothing but the blood rushing in my ears.
Then I whispered, "Who locked it?"
"We're reviewing the footage."
"Who found her?"
"A housekeeping employee named Teresa Jackson."
I closed my eyes.
"Is she still there?"
"Yes."
I stood.
"I want to speak with her."
Arthur agreed to come upstairs.
Before he arrived, my mother entered the suite.
She was sixty-four, with silver streaks running through her dark curls.
She took one look at Lily.
Then at me.
"What happened?"
I tried to answer.
But the words wouldn't come.
Instead, I began crying.
My mother wrapped her arms around me.
"Marcus."
I shook my head.
"I let someone hurt my baby."
She held me tighter.
"Tell me what happened."
I explained the reception.
Vanessa's ultimatum.
The mysterious message.
And what Arthur had said about the locked room.
Mom's expression changed.
She looked toward Lily.
Then whispered, "Oh, my precious girl."
Lily reached for her.
"Gamma."
Mom immediately lifted her.
"I'm here, sweetheart."
Lily rested against her shoulder.
For the first time all evening, she relaxed.
Then someone knocked.
Arthur stood outside with a woman in a housekeeping uniform.
The woman looked nervous.
Her name badge read TERESA.
I invited them inside.
Teresa glanced toward Lily.
Her eyes filled.
"Thank God she's okay."
My throat tightened.
"You found her?"
She nodded.
"I heard crying near the service hallway."
I swallowed.
"Then what?"
"I followed the sound."
Her voice trembled.
"The supply-room door was locked."
Arthur stood beside her.
Teresa continued.
"I called maintenance to open it."
I felt sick.
"When you opened the door?"
She covered her mouth.
"Your little girl was sitting on the floor."
My eyes filled.
"Alone?"
She nodded.
"Her shoes were beside a cleaning cart outside."
I gripped the back of a chair.
Teresa began crying.
"She was calling for her daddy."
I turned away.
I couldn't bear it.
My little girl had been frightened in a dark room.
While I was downstairs speaking with Leonard.
While Vanessa smiled for photographs.
While everyone celebrated family.
I forced myself to ask.
"How long was she there?"
Arthur answered.
"We're still establishing the timeline."
I nodded.
"Was Vanessa involved?"
He looked uncomfortable.
Then said, "We have reason to believe she entered that hallway."
My chest tightened.
"Show me."
Arthur opened a tablet.
The video showed Vanessa walking beside Lily.
My daughter was holding her stuffed rabbit.
Vanessa stopped near a service door.
She looked over her shoulder.
Then opened the door.
I watched her lead Lily inside.
My hands shook.
The camera angle didn't show the room's interior.
But it showed Vanessa closing the door.
Then turning the key.
I stopped breathing.
She put the key into her purse.
And walked away.
I stared at the screen.
I wanted to scream.
Instead, I heard myself whisper, "My wife did that."
Teresa began crying.
Arthur nodded solemnly.
Then he opened another recording.
"This was captured approximately twenty minutes later."
A man approached the same door.
He wore a dark suit.
A gold wristwatch.
And a familiar expression.
I leaned closer.
My stomach dropped.
Leonard Carter.
Vanessa's father.
He stopped outside the locked room.
He looked toward the camera.
Then took something from his pocket.
I watched him cover the camera with his hand.
The recording went black.
I slowly raised my eyes.
Arthur looked grim.
"Mr. Williams, your daughter wasn't simply left alone."
He paused.
May you like
"Someone appears to have tried to conceal what happened."
And I realized the entire Carter family might know more than they'd admitted.
