“Baby, where are you?” Lucy called out, her voice echoing faintly as she searched the quiet house. The place felt too still, unnervingly so. She had last seen her husband seated in the den, lounging in his chair, eyes half-focused on a muted television, when she told him she was turning in for the night. That was barely thirty minutes ago. Now he was gone, and something about the emptiness pressed on her chest like a warning.
Passing by the long hallway window, she caught sight of him outside. Jerry was just stepping through the front gate, moving with the intent stride of a man with secrets, heading straight for his car. A spike of irritation and fear hit her chest. Without hesitating, she rushed toward the door and flung it open.
“Jerry?” she called again, her tone sharper.
He froze m
