Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN IN HER HOUSE
Corinne and Gwendolyn had never been close.
They shared a father but little else.
Gwendolyn had always resented Corinne’s achievements, especially after their father left Corinne most of his estate. He had believed Gwendolyn’s repeated financial disasters were caused by carelessness. Corinne had used her inheritance to purchase the Overland Park house and establish a trust for Casey.
After Corinne’s deployment, Gwendolyn claimed she wanted to help.
Ross had assured Corinne it was temporary.
“She picks Casey up from preschool,” he had explained. “It’s easier for everyone.”
Corinne had accepted the arrangement because she was thousands of miles away.
Now, standing at the end of her own driveway, she noticed unfamiliar curtains in the upstairs bedroom. Gwendolyn’s yellow car had an overnight bag visible in the back seat.
Corinne’s concern sharpened.
She approached quietly, holding Casey’s teddy bear beneath her coat.
Through the living room window, she saw Ross placing his phone on a tripod.
Gwendolyn adjusted her dress beside the Christmas tree.
Neither of them looked surprised.
They were waiting for her.
Corinne stepped onto the porch and rang the bell.
Ross opened the door with his phone already recording.
“Corinne,” he said. “What are you doing here?”
She stared at him. “I live here.”
Casey appeared behind him.
For one hopeful second, the little girl’s face brightened.
Then Gwendolyn placed a hand on her shoulder.
Casey’s smile vanished.
“Mommy… please don’t come inside.”
The conversation that followed lasted less than three minutes, but Corinne learned more during those minutes than she had during nine months overseas.
Casey feared Gwendolyn.
Ross wanted evidence of Corinne behaving aggressively.
Someone had injured Casey’s wrist.
And Corinne’s office had been locked with a keypad she had never installed.
When Corinne challenged Ross about it, he shut the door.
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But Casey had already slipped something into the teddy bear’s Santa hat.
A tiny silver key.
