Sandra walked up the steps and knocked firmly on the door. I stood a few paces behind her, my heart hammering against my ribs.

An adult man opened the door. He was wearing a clean polo shirt, khaki pants, and holding a mug of steaming coffee.

He looked completely normal. He actually smiled at us, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Can I help you ladies?” he asked, his voice polite and warm.

“Mr. Vance?” Sandra asked, holding up her badge. “I’m Sandra Miller with Child Protective Services. We received a report regarding your daughter, Lily.”

Richard Vance didn’t flinch. He didn’t look angry. He just let out a soft, tired sigh, like a parent who was used to dealing with difficult school rumors.

“Oh, I see,” Richard said, leaning against the doorframe. “Let me guess.

The school called? Lily has a very active imagination, Ms. Miller. She has been making up stories lately because we had to cut back on sugar. Kids make things up when they don’t get their way.”

“I understand,” Sandra said, her voice remaining perfectly flat and professional. “But as part of our protocol, I need to do a quick walk-through of the home. Especially the kitchen and Lily’s sleeping area.”

Richard’s smile didn’t fade, but I noticed his grip on the coffee mug tightened. His knuckles turned slightly white.

“Of course,” he said, stepping aside. “We have nothing to hide. Come on in.”

The inside of the house smelled like pine cleaner, but it was incredibly sparse. There were no toys on the floor, no family photos on the walls. It felt cold, like an empty motel room.

We walked into the kitchen. My eyes went immediately to the refrigerator.

My stomach dropped.

Bolted directly into the stainless steel door of the fridge was a heavy, black iron padlock. The keys were nowhere to be seen. The kitchen cabinets also had small silver latches on them, all secured with padlocks.

Sandra stopped in front of the fridge. She pointed to the padlock.

“Can you explain this, Mr. Vance?” she asked.

Richard laughed, a casual, dry sound. “Lily has a sleepwalking issue. She cleared out the pantry in her sleep a few weeks ago, almost choked on some dry rice. It’s for her own safety. I unlock it when I’m awake.”