“You can hear the arguing right through the living room walls.”

“Nothing’s wrong, Richard,” Linda said instantly, her sharp voice softening into a rehearsed, pleasant tone.

“Camila had a little disagreement about the car schedule, and her father dropped by.”

I looked past Ethan into the open hallway.

Through the doorway, I could see the edge of the wooden kitchen desk.

My laptop charger was still sitting on top of the desk, its black cord plugged into the power strip behind the toaster.

If I left Elm Street without that charger, my laptop battery would die before I could finish the monthly financial reconciliation for my clients tomorrow morning.