“That device is part of the upgraded smoke detector system. It detects movement for energy-saving features—nothing is recording you. If you had contacted me, I would have explained.”
I felt my chest tighten.
Had I… overreacted?
I looked at the photos I had taken before leaving. Zoomed in.
The “lens” didn’t look like a typical camera. No wiring for storage, no transmitter visible.
Still… something felt off.
Then another message came in.
“For your peace of mind, you’re welcome to report it or have it inspected. I assure you, there is no camera in that unit.”
Silence filled the car.
My wife exhaled slowly.
“So… what now?”
I didn’t answer right away.
Because the truth was… I wasn’t sure anymore.
Were we right to panic?
Or had we just accused someone of something serious… without being certain?
I stared at the blinking light in the photo.
And even now…
I still don’t know if it was watching us…
Or if fear made us see something that wasn’t there.
