The Longest Night
At the station, Officer Rodriguez led me into a small room that smelled like old coffee.
Her tone was calm, but firm.
“Your son could’ve been seriously hurt tonight. He was found walking near the highway.”
“There must be a mistake,” I whispered. “Dale would never put Quinton in danger.”
“Your son says his father told him to play outside, then locked the door. He also mentioned his aunt Karen was inside.”
Another officer stepped in and whispered something to her. Rodriguez frowned.
“Your husband still isn’t answering. But your neighbor, Mrs. Chen, says she has footage you’ll want to see.”
My heart pounded. Mrs. Chen—the one who’d installed cameras after her own divorce.
Back in the main room, Quinton sat wrapped in a blanket, sipping hot chocolate.
“Sweetheart, can you tell Officer Rodriguez what happened?” I asked.
“Dad said he and Aunt Karen had grown-up stuff to do,” Quinton said, voice shaking. “He told me to play outside. I said it was dark, but he said just a little while. Then I heard the door lock.”
“What did you do then?” Rodriguez asked gently.
“I played on the swing, but it got cold. I knocked, but no one came. I saw lights in your room, Mommy, but the curtains were closed.”
“Did you hear anything?”
“Weird noises… like when people wrestle on TV, but different. Aunt Karen was laughing.”
My chest clenched.
“How long were you outside?”
“I don’t know. A long time. I climbed the fence with garbage cans and fell. Then I started walking to find you.”
Rodriguez turned to me.
“Mrs. Hayworth, this is serious. If your husband locked your son out so he could… be alone with Ms. Martinez, that’s a criminal act.”
Just then, my phone buzzed.
Dale: Where are you? Quinton’s bed is empty.
Rodriguez typed back: Come home now. Then she looked at me.
“We’re going to your house to see the footage. Are you ready?”
I nodded.
“Let’s see what my husband really did.”
