Chapter 2: The Video in the Garage

Claire’s hands trembled so badly she nearly dropped the phone before she found the video.

The timestamp showed 12:43 a.m.

The garage light flickered on. Ryan stepped into frame wearing jeans and a gray sweatshirt. A moment later, Ava appeared near the doorway, barefoot, tense, and visibly upset.

There was no sound at first, only the grainy image of a conversation Claire could not hear.

Then Ryan opened the trunk of his SUV.

Inside sat a cardboard box.

Ava leaned forward, looked inside, and recoiled as if she had seen something that broke her heart. Her mouth opened. She said something Claire could not make out. Ryan reached toward the box, not toward Ava, but Ava stepped backward fast.

Then she ran into the house.

The video ended.

Claire sat frozen at the kitchen table, the old phone glowing in her hand.

Every instinct in her body screamed.

Ryan had been in her home. Near her daughter. Alone. After midnight.

And according to Ava, he had tried to delete the footage.

Claire thought of every time Ryan had been patient, gentle, respectful. Every time he had waited outside instead of pushing his way into their life. Every soft smile. Every thoughtful message. Every promise that he understood Ava needed time.

Suddenly, all of it looked different.

Not kindness.

Performance.

Claire called him with a voice she barely recognized.

“Come over,” she said.

Ryan paused. “Claire, did something happen?”

“Come over now.”

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