I arrived at the house expecting a normal visit, but instead I heard a small child crying from behind a locked bedroom door.
When I opened it, I found Owen sitting alone, clutching a toy dinosaur and looking terrified.

The door had a deadbolt installed on the outside, and there was no way for him to get out.
A camera in the corner of the room was pointed directly at him, like someone was watching his every move.
I told Owen we were leaving, but he whispered that his mother said he must stay there.
Before I could react, I heard footsteps in the hallway and a calm voice calling my name.

The door handle slowly turned from the outside, and I realized the mother was already home.
But the way she spoke made it clear—she didn’t think she had done anything wrong.