CHAP 2 — The Locked Bedroom
Evan grabbed my wrist.
That was his first criminal mistake in front of my body camera.
It had been recording since I stepped out of my car.
I twisted free, pushed past him, and announced clearly, “I am entering under exigent circumstances. Possible domestic assault. Pregnant victim. Requesting medical assistance and backup.”
I heard dispatch answer through my phone speaker.
Evan’s smile vanished.
“You’re making a career-ending mistake.”
I did not slow down.
Celeste followed behind us, her voice sharp now.
“You have no warrant.”
“I have a distress call, an interrupted line, sounds of injury, and a pregnant victim inside.”
“You have your sister’s hysteria.”
I reached the bedroom door.
Locked.
“Mara!” I shouted. “It’s Lena. Answer me.”
A sound came from inside.
Not words.
Pain.
I kicked the door once, hard near the latch.
The wood split.
The second kick blew it open.
The room looked like violence had passed through it wearing expensive shoes.
An overturned lamp lay near the bed. A glass of water had shattered across the rug. A framed wedding photo hung crooked on the wall. Beside it was a fresh dent in the plaster at shoulder height.
Mara lay curled on the floor beside the nightstand, wearing a maternity nightgown, one arm wrapped around her stomach.
For a moment, I stopped being a detective.
I became twelve years old again, watching my twin fall off her bike, feeling the pain in my own knees before I saw the blood on hers.
Then training took over.
I dropped beside her.
“Mara, stay with me.”
Her eyes fluttered open.
“Baby,” she whispered.
“I know. Ambulance is coming.”
Her pulse was fast. Her breathing was shallow. She flinched when I moved near her ribs.
Evan stepped into the doorway.
“She fell.”
I looked at him.
He pointed at Mara like she was evidence he owned.
“She’s pregnant and hysterical. She just fell.”
Mara’s whole body tightened at the sound of his voice.
That reflex told me more than his words ever could.
Celeste stood behind him, expression cold.
“My son has been extremely patient with her.”
I kept one hand near Mara’s shoulder.
“Do not come closer.”
Evan laughed softly.
“You think your little badge scares me?”
“No,” I said. “But the camera does.”
I had not meant to say it yet.
The word came because my eyes had lifted.
There, inside the smoke detector above the bedroom door, a tiny red light blinked through the dark.
One pulse.
Then another.
Mara had installed it.
She had listened.
Evan followed my gaze.
His face changed before he understood why.
May you like
I pointed at the ceiling.
“She didn’t fall, Evan. Look up.”
