PART 2

He was not alone. Two police officers entered behind him, their attention moving from the open box to the kitchen and then to the empty space beside the fireplace.

Brian’s face was p ale. One officer asked, “Mrs. Cole, where is Harold Cole?”

I turned toward the side table. Harold’s coffee was still there, untouched since he left it.

Beside the mug sat a small plastic bottle I had never seen before.

Industrial drain cleaner…

PART 3

The officer nearest the fireplace put up one hand before I could step closer.

“Please don’t touch that,” she said. Her name was Detective Elena Ruiz.

She introduced the other officer as Patrolman Marks, then asked whether anyone else had been inside the house since Harold left.

I told her no. My voice shook when she asked if I had seen the bottle before, but I answered clearly. I hadn’t.

Brian stood so close to the doorway that he looked ready to run back out.