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.
For a moment I didn’t understand what I was seeing.
Then the realization struck.
It wasn’t part of the bed.
It was equipment.
I lifted the mattress higher.
The tube connected to a small recording device taped beneath the bed frame.
My stomach twisted.
Someone had hidden it there.
“Mia,” I said quietly, “we’re going to the living room.”
“Why?”
“Just trust me.”
Within minutes we were sitting on the couch while I called the police.
Two officers arrived about thirty minutes later. One carefully removed the device from beneath the bed while the other began asking questions.