Chapter 1 - THE SUITCASE
Grant Miller came home two days early.
That was the only reason he saw it.
He had been in Indianapolis for a construction-management conference when the final client session was canceled. Rather than stay another night, he changed his flight, rented a car, and drove home.
He did not call Patricia.
He wanted to surprise Ava and Lucas.
The surprise was his.
The moment his key entered the lock, he heard Ava screaming.
“NO! PLEASE!”
Grant shoved the door open.
His suitcase was still in one hand.
The laundry room beside the front entry was soaked with spilled milk.
An empty bottle lay on the floor.
Ava, six years old, barefoot in a pink shirt and jeans, had both arms locked around the stair post.
Lucas, two, clung to her side and cried.
Patricia had one arm around Ava’s waist and the other gripping her wrist.
“LET GO!”
Ava shook her head violently.
“I’M SCARED!”
Grant dropped the suitcase.
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!”
Patricia froze.
Ava saw him.
“DADDY!”
Grant crossed the room in seconds.
Patricia released Ava.
Ava collapsed against Grant, wet with milk and crying so hard she could barely talk.
Lucas buried his face against Grant’s leg.
Grant looked at the small children’s bag thrown near the open doorway.
Then at Patricia.
“Why are their things outside?”
Patricia swallowed.
“I was taking them to Melissa’s.”
“Why were you dragging Ava?”
“She wouldn’t cooperate.”
Ava pulled Grant closer.
“She said we had to be gone before the man came.”
Grant stopped.
“What man?”
Patricia’s face changed.
Tiny.
Enough.
Then a car door slammed outside.
Someone walked up the front path carrying a clipboard and a tablet.
Patricia went completely pale.
Grant looked through the open door.
May you like
The man wore a jacket with the logo of their homeowners insurance company.
And Grant suddenly remembered the claim Patricia had been “handling” for months.
