Chapter 4 - Maya’s First Warning
At the hospital, Maya received four stitches.
She apologized to me.
That stunned me.
“For what?”
“I should have told you sooner.”
“You just took a mop meant for my mother.”
“I still waited.”
Why?
Because Chloe employed her.
Technically, I did too.
But household authority had gradually shifted.
Chloe controlled schedules.
Time off.
Vendors.
Food orders.
Access codes.
Maya had immigrated to the United States as a teenager and later became a permanent resident. She had worked for us for eighteen months.
She liked Eleanor.
Mom liked her.
Three months earlier, Maya noticed trays coming back untouched.
She asked:
“Mrs. Hayes, aren’t you hungry?”
Mom answered:
“I never got lunch.”
Maya assumed confusion.
Then one afternoon she delivered lunch herself.
Chloe removed the tray ten minutes later.
“Doctor wants us monitoring intake.”
There was no such instruction.
Maya began paying attention.
Then she heard the lock engage outside Eleanor’s bedroom.
May you like
From the hallway.
That was when she became afraid.
