vy oak cabinet in the corner of the living room, fumbling with a key she wore on a chain around her neck.

cold, unmoving threat against Cody's lifeblood. He was a whimpering, sobbing mess on the floor, his go

t a thick manila folder. Her face was a mask of anguish as she turned

anded, her voice low. Sh

the glass surface. Then she rushed to a side table and retrieved a sleek, silver laptop

eyes darting between Joanna's face and the blade at her son's

idn't sa

ng a thin, shallow line across Cody's neck. It wasn't deep enoug

offshore account, Mom! Use the goddamn offsh

a different, encrypted portal. The interface of a Swiss bank appeared on the screen. Her eyes, filled with a venomous hatred,

my account in the next five minutes," she said, her voice soft as silk, "the

shattered Etha's last nerve. She typed furiously,

oft chime emanated

while she pulled out her phone with the other. The scr

ceived: $1

pen and scanned the deed. It was the correct property. No liens. No mortgages. Signed over from

ng was i

letter opener away. She gave Cody a shove with her

heap on the floor, a tangle of ex

e grabbed her worn trench coat from the rack, shrugging it on. There was not

ed the doorknob, the f

mild face slack with shock as he took in the scene: his wife and son crying on the floor, the

a... w

ting a trembling finger. "She's a monst

ively moved to block the doorway. He spread his arms, a flimsy human

thing much older, much colder. It was the look

er, she would hear his soft footsteps in the hallway. A few moments later, a sandwich wrapped in a napkin would appear outside her door, placed there in silence.

ldn't h

ng his with enough force to make him stumble back. She stepped out

ttom of the steps, h

ugh for him to hear. "Something with a deep basement. Stock it

or a response. Sh

walking away, her trench coat billowing behind her. He stood frozen in the doorway, a man caught betwee

a niece he no longer recognized. Inside, he could hear Etha frantically trying to call 911, her voice

s-washed over her. It was the sound of a world blissfully unaware of its impending doom. She

he brass letter opener fall from her grasp. It disappeared into the darkn

when he saw her face. He saw the aura of violence that still clung to her, a scent

life she was about to leave behind. She slid into t

r asked, his eyes meeting h

ashing lights of the city, at the p

ess of the old, forgo

the deed, her knuckles white. Her mind was already racing, blueprint