Chapter 1 - Take the House
Leo’s small body rolled across the beige carpet before Elena could even scream.
“GET THAT KID AWAY FROM ME!”
Diane Morgan stood over her one-year-old grandson with a pickleball paddle clenched in one hand, sports bag hanging from her shoulder.
Leo burst into sobs.
Elena’s wheelchair struck the sofa as she tried to move.
Her braced leg refused to support her.
“Leo!”
She pulled herself from the chair anyway.
Pain shot through her injured leg as she hit the carpet, but she dragged herself toward him.
“HE’S YOUR GRANDSON!”
Diane rolled her eyes.
“NOT MY PROBLEM.”
Maya began crying beside the playpen.
Elena gathered Leo against her chest and stared at the woman who had spent the past six weeks reminding her that taking care of two babies was “destroying her life.”
Six weeks since the crash.
Six weeks since Elena had lost most of the strength in one leg.
Six weeks since Diane had moved into Elena’s suburban home claiming she was there to help.
Help had quickly become complaints.
Then insults.
Then demands for money.
Today it had become something Elena could no longer excuse.
Diane headed for the white front door.
Elena grabbed her phone.
“DANIEL. CUT HER OFF.”
Diane stopped.
Slowly turned.
Elena’s attorney, Daniel Cho, answered immediately.
Elena’s voice remained steady.
“EVERYTHING. TODAY.”
Daniel hesitated.
“THE HOUSE TOO?”
For the first time, Diane looked afraid.
Elena tightened her arms around Leo.
“TAKE THE HOUSE.”
“What house?” Diane demanded.
Elena didn't answer.
Because Diane still believed the house she lived in belonged to her.
It didn't.
Neither did the investment account paying her expenses.
Or the car outside.
Or the membership at the club where she played pickleball every morning while her injured daughter struggled with twins.
Diane’s face went pale.
“Elena… what did you do?”
Elena reached into the handbag hanging from her wheelchair.
Her hand emerged holding a small black rectangular device.
Digital timer.
Wires beneath a transparent protective cover.
A blinking red indicator.
Diane’s paddle slipped toward her side.
“What the hell is that?”
Elena looked down at it.
She had found it inside her late husband Michael’s safe after the crash.
She had spent eleven days too frightened to touch it.
Because attached to it had been a note in Michael’s handwriting:
IF YOUR MOTHER EVER TRIES TO TAKE THE HOUSE, START THE TIMER.
Diane stared at the device.
Then something terrifying happened.
She whispered:
“Michael told me he destroyed that.”
Elena slowly raised her eyes.
“You've seen this before?”
Diane didn't answer.
May you like
Instead, she dropped her sports bag—
and ran toward Elena.
