Mostly the videos were of a toy’s-eye view of Maya’s world, going from trips to the grocery store with Angelique to Mommy-and-me exercise classes with Tanya, with weekly cameo appearances by Letty herself, strapping Maya into a stroller for trips to the park or the zoo during their weekly playdates.

Letty had almost dozed off watching one of the videos, which, because of Angelique’s presence in the apartment, must have been a weekday morning. As she watched, Tanya came into the living room, dressed in her yoga clothes, carrying a cardboard take-out container from the corner deli.

From the camera angle, Letty guessed that Maya must have left Ellie on the bookshelf that held her stash of favorite picture books.

“Angie,” Tanya called. The housekeeper bustled in, carrying an armful of folded towels.

“You can go home early today. See you tomorrow, okay?”

Angelique looked surprised, but a little while later she hurried out the door. Maybe five minutes after that, Tanya reappeared in the living room, dressed in jeans, a low-necked black sweater, and thigh-high black suede boots. She’d combed her hair and applied makeup. Camera-ready, Letty thought.

The door buzzer sounded, and Tanya spoke into it, although Letty couldn’t hear what she said. A moment later, her sister stood, holding the door open, as a tall man in a knit ski hat and bulky leather jacket appeared. Tanya took a half step backward, then threw herself into the man’s embrace.

“What the hell?” Letty whispered aloud. She couldn’t see the man’s face, or hear their conversation. A moment later, her sister closed the door and led the man into the living room, still holding his hand. She pointed at something just out of camera range. “Isn’t she precious?” Tanya cooed. The man hung back, though, and Letty still couldn’t get a good look at his face.

Without any warning, Letty heard Maya burst into tears, and Ellie, and the camera, beat a hasty retreat up the stairs, toward her bedroom. All Letty could see at this point was the pricey leopard-print runner on the stairway.

“Maya!” Tanya called. “Come on back, baby! Don’t be scared.”

“Noooo,” Maya’s voice cried. “I don’t wanna. I don’t like that man.” The video footage was dizzying as the stuffed elephant was dragged behind on the stairs, and then down the hallway and into Maya’s nursery. Letty heard the door slam. More crying from Maya, and then, eventually, views of the ceiling of the nursery, with its commissioned painting of clouds and treetops. Soon, she heard her niece’s soft snores.