Chapter 4: The Open Door
The door opened with a soft click behind me.
I turned so fast the phone nearly slipped from my hand.
The kitchen was empty.
For one second, I couldn't breathe.
Then I saw it.
The hallway door.
The one leading from the kitchen into the little laundry room.
It was open by three inches.
I knew I'd closed it earlier.
I always did.
The washing machine sat behind it, humming quietly. A strip of yellow light from the kitchen fell across the tile floor.
"Julian," I whispered.
"What?""
"Someone's in my house.""
His breathing stopped.
"Get out.""
"I can't just—"
"Meredith, listen to me. Don't look for them. Don't call out. Take your phone and go through the front door.""
My hand tightened around it.
"What if they're already near the front door?""
"Then use the back.""
The laundry room was between me and the back door.
I looked toward the dark opening.
"No.""
"Why?""
"The back door is through there.""
"Okay. Then front door. Slowly.""
I took one step.
The floor creaked.
I froze.
Nothing moved.
"Meredith?"" Julian whispered.
"I'm here.""
"Are you walking?""
"Yes.""
"Good. Keep going.""
Another step.
Then another.
I was almost to the hallway when I heard a faint metallic scrape.
Not from the front.
From the laundry room.
I backed away.
"Julian.""
"What?""
"I heard something.""
"Where?""
"The laundry room.""
He cursed under his breath.
Then another sound came.
A drawer sliding open.
Someone was searching through the room.
I covered my mouth.
Julian's voice became urgent.
"Get outside. Now.""
I ran.
The front door flew open and cold rain slapped my face.
I didn't bother locking it.
I sprinted down the steps barefoot, one heel coming off somewhere in the yard.
My neighbor's porch light flicked on.
A dog started barking.
I kept going until I reached the sidewalk.
Only then did I look back.
My house stood dark behind me.
The front door was still open.
"Are you outside?"" Julian asked.
"Yes.""
"Good.""
"I don't know where they are.""
"Stay where people can see you.""
I crossed the street and ducked beneath the awning of a closed coffee shop.
Rain hammered the pavement.
My hands were shaking so badly I could barely hold the phone.
"Call the police," I said.
Julian didn't answer immediately.
"Julian.""
"I want you to.""
"But?""
"But you need to understand what happens next.""
"What happens next?""
"If you tell the police about Adrian's video, they'll take your laptop.""
"That's fine.""
"They'll take your phone too.""
"That's fine.""
"And whoever sent that video will know you have it.""
I stared at him.
"You think they don't already know?""
"I think that's why someone was in your house.""
A car turned onto my street.
Black SUV.
My chest tightened.
"Julian.""
"What?""
"There's a black SUV.""
"Is it the same one?""
"I don't know.""
"Don't move.""
The SUV slowed near my house.
It passed.
Then stopped at the corner.
Its brake lights glowed through the rain.
"Julian, it's stopping.""
"Get inside the coffee shop.""
"It's closed.""
"There's a doorway, isn't there?""
I glanced behind me.
A recessed entrance sat beneath the awning.
I stepped into it.
The SUV remained at the corner.
My heartbeat seemed loud enough to carry across the street.
Then my phone vibrated.
A text.
Unknown number.
*You should have left Adrian buried.*
My stomach dropped.
I showed Julian.
He went quiet.
Then he said, "Meredith, don't answer.""
"I'm not going to.""
Another message arrived.
*Ask Colleen what she did the night before the crash.*
I stared at the words.
Then another.
*She already knows you're looking.*
The SUV pulled away.
I watched its taillights disappear into the rain.
"Julian.""
"Yes?""
"Where's my mother-in-law's house?""
He hesitated.
"Why?""
"Because that's where I'm going.""
"No.""
"I'm done hiding.""
"Meredith—"
"You said she knows something.""
"I said she knows who paid her.""
"Then I'm asking her.""
"You don't understand.""
"Then explain.""
Silence.
"Julian.""
Finally, he said, "There was an envelope.""
"What envelope?""
"Six weeks before the wedding, my mother received one.""
"From whom?""
"Adrian found it.""
"What was inside?""
"Money.""
My throat tightened.
"How much?""
"I don't know exactly.""
"Julian.""
"Thirty thousand dollars.""
I closed my eyes.
Thirty thousand dollars.
For what?
"What did Adrian do?""
"He confronted her.""
"When?""
"The night before he died.""
My heart stopped.
"You're telling me Adrian saw your mother the night before the crash?""
"Yes.""
"And you knew?""
"Not at first.""
"Then when?""
Julian's voice dropped.
"The morning he died.""
A gust of wind pushed rain beneath the awning.
I pressed myself against the wall.
"Why didn't you tell me?""
"Because I thought Mom was involved.""
"And now?""
"I think she was trying to protect Adrian.""
"From whom?""
"I don't know.""
I laughed bitterly.
"You keep saying that.""
"Because the people behind this killed my brother.""
The word killed sounded different coming from him.
He wasn't speculating anymore.
He believed it.
I looked toward my house.
Police sirens sounded somewhere far away.
"I need to see Colleen.""
Julian was silent.
"Do you know where she is?""
"Yes.""
"Tell me.""
"She won't talk to you.""
"Then I'll make her.""
"That's not what I mean.""
"What do you mean?""
"She isn't safe either.""
I felt a chill despite the heat of the humid night.
"Why?""
"Because the person who paid her is gone.""
"And?""
"That means there's no reason to keep her alive.""
My stomach twisted.
"Julian.""
"I'm serious.""
"Where is she?""
He gave me the address.
I wrote it down.
Before I could say anything else, Julian spoke.
"Meredith.""
"What?""
"Don't tell her about the video.""
"Why?""
"Because I need to know whether she's still protecting the same person.""
I frowned.
"How do I find that out?""
"Ask her one question.""
"What question?""
"Ask her who was sitting in Adrian's car the night he died.""
I went still.
"Julian, you said the crash was on the highway.""
"It was.""
"The police report said Adrian was alone.""
"I know.""
"Then why are you asking who was in his car?""
"Because Adrian wasn't alone when he left my mother's house.""
A cold sensation spread through my arms.
"Who was with him?""
"I don't know.""
"Did you see them?""
"No.""
"Then how do you know?""
"Because I saw Adrian get into the driver's seat.""
"Alone?""
"No.""
I held my breath.
Julian continued.
"There was someone in the passenger seat.""
"Who?""
"I couldn't see their face.""
"Why not?""
"Because I arrived too late.""
I stared at the rain.
"Julian, this changes everything.""
"I know.""
"The police would have found another person.""
"Unless that person got out before the crash.""
My mind raced.
"Then where did they go?""
"That's what Adrian was trying to figure out.""
"And Colleen knew.""
"Yes.""
I looked at the time.
1:37 a.m.
"I'll call you when I reach her house.""
"No.""
"What?""
"Don't call.""
I frowned.
"Why?""
"Because if Mom is being watched, a call could put her in danger.""
"Then how am I supposed to tell you what happens?""
"You don't.""
I almost laughed.
"You're unbelievable.""
"I'm giving you one last piece of advice.""
"Go ahead.""
"When you see my mother, don't ask her what happened to Adrian.""
"Why?""
"Because she'll lie.""
"Then what do I ask?""
"Ask her what she was paid to forget.""
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone.
Then I ordered a rideshare.
Twenty minutes later, I stood outside Colleen's house.
It was a beautiful old brick home with white shutters and a small garden in front.
Every window was dark.
I walked to the front porch.
No lights.
No movement.
I knocked.
Once.
Twice.
"Colleen?""
Nothing.
I knocked harder.
"It's Meredith.""
Still nothing.
Then I noticed the front door wasn't fully shut.
My pulse jumped.
I pushed it open.
"Colleen?""
The house smelled faintly of lavender and something metallic.
My eyes adjusted.
The living room was untouched.
A lamp was knocked onto its side.
A glass lay shattered on the rug.
"Colleen?""
I moved farther inside.
Then I heard a soft sound upstairs.
A woman crying.
I ran.
The bedroom door stood open.
Colleen was sitting on the floor beside the bed, blood running down one side of her forehead.
She looked up at me.
"Meredith.""
I dropped to my knees.
"What happened?""
Her hand closed around my wrist with surprising strength.
"You shouldn't have come.""
"Who did this?""
Her eyes filled with tears.
"They found out.""
"Who?""
She shook her head.
"Don't say his name.""
"Whose name?""
Colleen looked toward the bedroom door.
Then she leaned close enough that I could smell the lavender on her sweater.
"The man in Adrian's car.""
I felt my blood go cold.
"You know who he is.""
She nodded.
"Who?""
Her lips trembled.
Before she could answer, headlights swept across the bedroom wall.
A car had just pulled into the driveway.
Colleen's grip tightened around my arm.
May you like
Then she whispered four words that made my entire body go numb.
"Meredith, it was Julian.""
