Chapter 1 - THE LOCKED BEDROOM
Paula heard Mia screaming before she reached the stairs.
Not crying.
Screaming.
Three years old.
Small.
Floral dress.
Bare feet.
“MOMMY!”
Paula dropped her purse.
Andrew was two steps behind her.
They had been gone less than four hours.
His mother, Linda, had agreed to babysit.
That was ordinary.
Linda had watched Mia dozens of times.
Cold sometimes.
Critical often.
But competent.
Or so Paula had believed.
“MIA?!”
Another scream came from upstairs.
Paula ran.
The bedroom door was locked.
She grabbed the knob.
Nothing.
“Mia!”
Little fists pounded from inside.
“Mommy! Mommy!”
Paula hit the door with her shoulder.
Once.
Twice.
BANG.
The frame cracked.
The door burst inward.
Mia sat on the carpet beside the bed, sobbing so hard she could barely breathe.
Paula rushed in.
Scooped her up.
“Baby, I’m here.”
Mia wrapped both arms around her neck.
“Grandma hit me…”
Paula went still.
Andrew stopped in the doorway.
“What?”
Mia touched her cheek.
“Grandma hit.”
Andrew looked around the room.
No Linda.
No suitcase.
No car outside.
Then Paula noticed the inside lock.
It was not a child lock.
The bedroom had been locked from the hallway with an old brass key.
“She LOCKED her in here!”
Andrew’s face collapsed.
“My mom did this?”
Paula looked at him.
Not gently.
“Call your mother.”
Andrew pulled out his phone.
His hand shook.
Paula held Mia tighter.
“Tell her NEVER come back.”
Andrew froze for one beat.
Then dialed.
Linda answered on the fourth ring.
Airport noise in the background.
“Andrew?”
His voice came out flat.
“What did you do to Mia?”
Silence.
Then Linda said:
“Paula’s already turning you against me.”
Andrew closed his eyes.
May you like
And Paula understood instantly.
Linda had already prepared a story.
