Inside Room 112, Angela’s eyes adjusted to the dim light seeping through the curtains. The girl was seated on the edge of the bed, her blonde hair falling around her face like a veil. Her hands were clasped tightly in her lap, fingers interwoven, pressing against the material of her jeans. Daniel Harper stood a few feet away, his back partially turned to the window. His posture was tense, his head lowered, and he seemed to be talking, though Angela couldn’t hear the words.
It was what he was holding that sent a chill down her spine—a small camcorder, its red recording light blinking methodically. The girl sat motionless, her eyes glazed over as if she were staring through the walls and into another world. Angela felt her breath catch, the air around her thickening as dread settled deep in her stomach.
Angela’s instincts screamed at her to do something, anything. For a moment, she froze, panic rooting her to the spot. Her mind raced, trying to piece together what she was seeing, what it meant. The image of the camcorder burned into her memory, each blink of the red light a silent cry for help.
Finally, Angela tore herself away from the scene and stumbled back to the front desk, her hands shaking as she picked up the phone. She hesitated, her heart thundering in her chest. What if she was wrong? But no—she couldn’t ignore the fear she had seen in the girl’s eyes, the unnatural stillness that clung to her like a second skin.
With trembling fingers, Angela dialed the police. She kept her voice steady as she relayed what she had seen, knowing that every second counted. The operator assured her that a patrol car was on its way, urging her to stay calm and not confront the man.
The minutes seemed to stretch into eternity as Angela waited, her eyes glued to the clock above the desk. Finally, the distant wail of sirens pierced the heavy silence. Angela exhaled a shaky breath, relief and anxiety swirling within her.
The officers arrived, their presence a balm to Angela’s frayed nerves. They moved swiftly, their professionalism evident as they approached Room 112. Angela watched from a distance, her heart in her throat as they knocked on the door. She caught a glimpse of Daniel’s startled expression as he opened it, followed by the officers stepping inside.
Angela’s hands gripped the edge of the counter, her knuckles white with tension. She couldn’t hear what was being said, but she saw the girl being led out, her small figure dwarfed by the presence of the officers. The girl looked back once, her eyes meeting Angela’s through the window. In that fleeting gaze, Angela saw a flicker of gratitude—a silent acknowledgment that someone had noticed, someone had cared.
As the police escorted Daniel Harper out in handcuffs, Angela felt a wave of relief wash over her. She had done the right thing. The girl was safe now, and Angela knew she had made a difference. The Sun Valley Motel, with its flickering neon sign and worn-out carpets, had been a place of refuge for many. Tonight, it had been a place of rescue.