We filed a report with Airbnb and local police, attaching photos of the device and the strange laser reflection. The host doubled down on his story, describing it as a “standard security relay,” but the wiring, lens, and placement told a different truth. This was meant to see, to record, to follow.
In the days after, I kept replaying every moment in that room, wondering what had already been captured and where it might end up. The five-star reviews, the smiling profile picture, the “verified” badge — they all felt like part of a carefully staged illusion. We still use short-term rentals, but now we arrive with a flashlight, a camera detector app, and a willingness to walk out. Trust, I learned, isn’t in the listing; it’s in what you’re ready to do when something feels wrong.
