Smith Residence - Friday Morning, 11:52 AM
Patricia Smith stood in her bedroom, staring at her phone in disbelief.
Harold was dead.
Her husband. Her meal ticket. Her cover for years of manipulation and control.
Dead.
The doctor had called five minutes ago with the news. Massive heart attack. Sudden. He'd been alone in his study when it happened. The housekeeper had found him collapsed in his chair.
Patricia's first thought wasn't grief.
It was: Did he talk to Emily before he died?
Harold had been secretive lately. Taking calls on a phone Patricia didn't recognize. Making appointments his assistant wouldn't discuss with her. And this morning, he'd left the house early without telling her where he was going.
Had he gone to see Emily? Had he confessed everything? Had he betrayed Patricia in his final hours?
