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.

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.

“Do you know anyone who might enter your home without permission?” the officer asked.

I shook my head.

“No.”

But Mia spoke softly from the couch.

“The cable man came last week.”

Both officers turned toward her.

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