“Mia,” I whispered.
She stirred slightly.
“What’s wrong, Mom?”
I tried to keep my voice steady.
“Sweetheart… did anyone come into your room tonight?”
“No.”
“Did you hear anything?”
She shook her head sleepily.
I slid my hand beneath the edge of the mattress.
And touched something that absolutely wasn’t part of the bed.
The instant my fingers brushed the object beneath the mattress, a cold wave ran through my body. The shape felt long and rigid, like plastic or metal. I quickly pulled my hand away and stood up.
“Mia,” I said softly, “come sit with me for a moment.”
She rubbed her eyes and climbed down from the bed.
“What is it?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
I pulled the mattress slightly away from the wall and carefully lifted one corner.
What I saw underneath made my heart drop.
A narrow black plastic tube was wedged between the mattress and the wooden frame.
Attached to it was a thin cable running down the side of the bed toward the floor.
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