Chapter 2: The Basement Door
I didn't sleep that night.
Neither did Terrence.
Lennox, however, slept upstairs as if nothing had happened.
At 2:17 a.m., I heard footsteps in the hallway.
I sat upright in bed.
A floorboard creaked outside my door.
Then came a soft metallic sound.
A key turning.
I reached for the lamp.
“Who's there?””
The footsteps stopped.
A moment later, Terrence appeared in my doorway.
He looked exhausted.
“Mom, it's me.””
I switched on the lamp.
“What are you doing?””
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“I need to talk to you.””
“You needed to talk before your wife threatened me.””
“I know.””
“You recorded yourself telling her to scare me.””
“I know.””
“Then start explaining.””
He closed the door behind him.
For several seconds, he stood there silently.
Finally, he said, “I didn't know she recorded that.””
“That isn't the part I'm worried about.””
He sat on the edge of the chair beside my dresser.
“She has been controlling everything.””
I stared at him.
“Your wife?””
He nodded.
“She emptied our accounts.””
“What accounts?””
“All of them.””
I sat down.
“Terrence, where did the six hundred and twenty thousand dollars go?””
He looked toward the window.
“Some went to debts.””
“What debts?””
“Her debts.””
I felt a cold pressure behind my ribs.
“And the rest?””
He lowered his voice.
“Investments.””
“What investments?””
“I don't know.””
“You don't know where your house money went?””
“I stopped asking because every time I did, she threatened to leave.””
I shook my head.
“You're thirty-eight years old.””
“I know.””
“You have a job.””
“I know.””
“Then why are you acting like a hostage?””
He looked at me.
“Because I am.””
A knock sounded downstairs.
Terrence immediately stood.
His entire expression changed.
“She's awake.””
I whispered, “What does she want?””
He didn't answer.
We heard Lennox call from the kitchen.
“Terrence?””
He closed his eyes.
“Don't tell her I talked to you.””
“Why?””
He looked directly at me.
“Because if she knows I told you anything, she'll make sure neither of us gets another chance.””
The words chilled me.
Before I could respond, Lennox shouted again.
“Terrence!””
He left my room.
I waited until his footsteps disappeared.
Then I heard the basement door open.
I followed.
My basement had always been the least interesting room in the house. Boxes of Christmas decorations. Old furniture.
My husband's workbench. A locked filing cabinet I'd inherited from my father.
The light came on.
Terrence stood at the bottom of the stairs.
Lennox was beside him.
She turned when she saw me.
“Why are you awake?””
“I heard something.””
“You should go back upstairs.””
“I heard the basement door.””
She smiled.
“We're looking for somewhere to put our things.””
“No.””
She frowned.
“No?””
“This basement isn't storage.””
Terrence looked at her.
“Lennox, just leave it.””
She ignored him.
“Margaret, give me the key to that cabinet.””
My eyes moved to the filing cabinet.
“What?””
“That cabinet.””
“How do you know it's locked?””
Her face changed for half a second.
Then she smiled.
“Because Terrence told me.””
I looked at my son.
He said nothing.
I stepped toward the cabinet.
“You've never seen inside it.””
Lennox's voice sharpened.
“Give me the key.””
“No.””
She stepped closer.
“I don't think you understand what's happening.””
“I understand perfectly.””
“You don't.””
She reached for my arm.
Terrence caught her wrist.
“Don't touch her.””
Lennox stared at him.
“You're choosing her now?””
“I'm telling you to stop.””
She jerked her arm away.
“You know what happens if she opens that cabinet.””
My heart skipped.
I looked at Terrence.
“What is she talking about?””
He looked terrified.
“Mom, please.””
I turned to the cabinet.
My father's old key had always been in a small wooden box in my bedroom.
But suddenly, I remembered something.
Three months earlier, I'd found the cabinet slightly open.
I'd assumed I'd forgotten to lock it.
I hadn't.
I walked toward the stairs.
Lennox blocked me.
“Where are you going?””
“To get the key.””
Her eyes widened.
“Margaret, don't.””
I stopped.
“Why?””
She didn't answer.
Then Terrence whispered something that made my blood run cold.
“Because that cabinet isn't where the money is.””
I turned slowly.
“Then what's inside?””
He looked at Lennox.
May you like
She looked at him.
And neither of them answered.
