“She takes medicine because he hurts her.”
The video shook as she adjusted the phone.
“He took her passport. He has all the bank cards. He checks her phone every night. She tried to leave last year, but he found us at Aunt Rachel’s house.”
I knew Laura had a sister.
I also remembered the week Laura and the children disappeared.
Rick told everyone they were visiting family.
When they returned, Laura wore sunglasses for four days despite the rain.
Mia kept speaking.
“He said if she ever leaves again, he’ll make sure no one finds her.”
I paused the video.
My kitchen felt too quiet.
Through the window, I could see the trimmed hedge separating our properties.
I had lived beside them for two years.
I had seen Laura collecting packages.
Watering flowers.
Walking Ben to the bus stop.
I had waved.
Complimented her children.
Asked whether she wanted extra tomatoes from my garden.
I had never asked why she flinched when Rick came outside.
I pressed play.
Mia held up a small black memory card.
“We started recording him after Christmas. He told Mom he could make her disappear because his company installs cameras for the police station and he knows which roads don’t have any.”
Ben leaned toward the screen.
“He has a hole.”
Mia looked at him.
“Don’t say it like that.”
“But he does.”
She faced the camera again.
“There is a place in the woods where he took us once. He said it was for camping, but there was a deep hole behind the cabin.”
My mouth went dry.
“He made Ben stand beside it,” Mia whispered. “Then he told Mom accidents happen when people don’t listen.”
The video ended.
For a moment, I could not move.
Then I opened the recordings.
The first file began with a door slamming.
Rick’s voice followed.
“You think anyone believes you over me?”
Laura said something too quietly to hear.
