First Chapter — The stair boards creaked as Carl climbed upstairs to the bedroom, careful not to wake his sleeping children or wife.
He found nothing amiss inside his daughters’ room — one on top of the blanket — the other straddled horizontally, one foot off the side. He slipped ten dollars beneath Caitlin’s pillow, pocketing the tissue-wrapped tooth, and headed toward the hall.
With the string still dangling from the doorknob, Carl tiptoed past toward the cascading water in the master bedroom. It wasn’t typical for Kate to shower so late, but what other explanation could there be?
He fluffed her bedsheets, arranged the nightie she’d wear after he was done with her, then slipped under the covers in waiting.
The phone pinged. He gasped as the text caught his attention.
If you want to see your wife leave the bathroom alone, it’s best you close your eyes.
