I Left My House Empty Three Days Before Christmas

they should still go.”

I sat up straighter. “Go where?”

“The beach.”

I actually laughed. “With what babysitter?”

He didn’t answer.

Then, lower, “Diane asked Jenny to help.”

There it was. The extra turn of the knife.

A thirteen-year-old girl. Their backup plan.

My face got hot.

“Put me on speaker if they’re in the room,” I said.

He hesitated. Then I heard movement,continue reading …