Three Weeks After Lucas Was Gone, Charles Claimed the House on Maple Street

I didn’t scream.

I looked at my handbag two feet away and remembered that my phone was in my sweater pocket, not the bag.

Inside, a drawer slid open.

Then another.

I put my back against the porch post and got my feet under me.

The boards creaked once.

Through the door, Courtney said, “What are you looking for?”

“The deed,” Charles said.