Chapter 3: The Woman on the Phone
“I think you need to know what your wife has been doing when you’re not home.””
The woman’s voice was calm, but there was something underneath it.
Urgency.
I stepped away from Corinne.
“Who is this?””
“My name is Lena Brooks. I live two houses down from you.””
I knew the name.
Lena had moved into the neighborhood about eight months earlier. Mid-forties, worked from home, usually waved when I drove past. We had spoken maybe three times.
I glanced at Corinne.
The moment I said Lena’s name, her face changed.
“Hang up,” Corinne said.
I stared at her.
Lena heard her.
“Is Corinne there?””
“Yes.””
Another pause.
“Then don’t put me on speaker.””
I walked into Wren’s bedroom and partially closed the door.
“What have you seen?””
Lena exhaled.
“I’ve been trying to decide whether to call you for weeks.””
“Weeks?””
“I didn’t know what was happening inside your house. I only knew something felt wrong.””
My grip tightened around the phone.
“Tell me.””
“The first time was about six weeks ago. You left around seven in the morning. Maybe twenty minutes later, Wren appeared at an upstairs window.””
My eyes moved toward the wall separating Wren’s bedroom from the old playroom.
“What was she doing?””
“Knocking on the glass.””
My stomach dropped.
Lena continued.
“I was outside watering plants. At first, I thought she was waving. Then I realized she was crying.””
I pressed my hand against the dresser.
“Why didn’t you come over?””
“I did.””
That stopped me.
“What happened?””
“Corinne answered the door.””
Lena’s voice hardened.
“She told me Wren was having a tantrum because you had spoiled her. She said Wren had been throwing toys and needed time alone.””
I closed my eyes.
“And you believed her?””
“For about five minutes.””
“What changed?””
“Desmond.””
I opened my eyes.
“What about him?””
“He came outside while his mother was talking to me. He didn’t say anything. He just looked up at that window.””
Lena paused.
“David, I’ll never forget his face.””
Behind the bedroom door, I heard movement.
Then Desmond’s voice.
“Dad?””
I opened the door.
He stood in the hallway beside Wren.
Wren was holding his hand.
Corinne was gone.
“Where’s your mother?”” I asked.
Desmond pointed downstairs.
“She went to the kitchen.””
I looked at Wren.
“Come here, sweetheart.””
She approached carefully.
I crouched.
“Do you know Miss Lena?””
Wren nodded.
“Did you ever see her from the window?””
Another nod.
“Were you locked in that room?””
Wren’s eyes dropped.
“Yes.””
Desmond squeezed her hand.
“You can tell him.””
Wren took a shaky breath.
“I knocked because I was thirsty.””
Something hot rose behind my ribs.
“How long were you inside?””
“I don’t know.””
Desmond answered for her.
“Until almost lunch.””
I stood.
Lena was still on the phone.
“You heard that?”” I asked.
“Yes.””
Her voice cracked.
“There’s more.””
I walked farther down the hallway.
“What more?””
“Three days ago, I saw Corinne carrying a black trash bag outside after you left.””
“That doesn’t mean anything.””
“I know. But she put it in my trash bin instead of yours.””
I froze.
“Why?””
“I wondered the same thing.””
“What was inside?””
“I didn’t open it then. But yesterday our bin tipped over during collection. Some things spilled out.””
“What things?””
“Children’s food.””
I stared toward the stairs.
“Food?””
“Sealed snack packs. Juice boxes. Bread. Fruit cups.””
I remembered Corinne complaining that Wren wasted groceries.
I had believed her.
Lena continued.
“There were also two drawings with Wren’s name on them.””
“What drawings?””
“One showed a locked door.””
My mouth went dry.
“The other showed a woman holding a key.””
A floorboard creaked behind me.
Corinne stood at the top of the stairs.
“Give me the phone.””
“No.””
Her eyes narrowed.
“Lena is obsessed with us. She watches this house constantly.””
Lena must have heard.
“That’s what she told you I’d say, isn’t it?”” I asked.
“Yes,” Lena replied quietly.
“Because she confronted me yesterday.””
Corinne lunged for my phone.
I stepped back.
“Don’t touch me.””
“David, she is lying!””
“Then explain the room.””
Corinne stopped.
“Explain the lock.””
Silence.
“Explain why Wren knows exactly when you lock the pantry.””
Her face flushed.
“You have no idea what I deal with while you’re gone.””
“What do you deal with, Corinne? A hungry five-year-old?””
“She manipulates you!””
Wren flinched.
That movement changed the room.
Desmond immediately stepped in front of her.
His own mother noticed.
For a second, nobody spoke.
Then Desmond said, “Stop blaming her.””
Corinne stared at him.
“You stay out of this.””
“No.””
His voice trembled.
“You always tell her Dad will stop loving her if she causes problems.””
I felt the air leave my lungs.
I looked at Wren.
“Did she say that?””
Wren began crying.
Corinne snapped, “Desmond!””
He shouted back.
“You did!””
It was the first time I had ever heard him raise his voice.
Corinne marched toward him.
I stepped between them.
“Enough.””
She stopped inches from me.
“You’re turning my own son against me.””
“No. He’s telling me what happened.””
Her eyes became cold.
“You’re going to regret humiliating me like this.””
I barely recognized the woman standing in front of me.
Then Lena spoke through the phone.
“David, there’s one more reason I called tonight.””
I lifted the phone.
“What?””
“I installed a doorbell camera after someone damaged my flower beds last month.””
I waited.
“My camera sees part of your driveway and the side entrance.””
Corinne went completely still.
Lena continued.
“I checked the recordings.””
My heartbeat pounded in my ears.
“And?””
“There’s someone who comes to your house regularly after your car leaves.””
I looked at Corinne.
Her face had lost all color.
“Who?””
Lena hesitated.
“I don’t know his name.””
May you like
Then she added quietly:
“But Desmond might.””
