Chapter 3

After getting his reply, I got up and headed into the kitchen.

The TV was still on in the living room, little more than background noise.

As I started prepping dinner, I found myself going over all the strange things Luther had been doing lately.

I was so lost in thought that I barely noticed when the news anchor suddenly cut in with a breaking report.

“Authorities have identified the body of the man who drowned in Lake Yandee last week.

“The deceased has been identified as Luther Miller, male...”

My mind went completely blank.

Behind me, the front door opened quietly.

Then Luther's gentle voice drifted in.

“Honey, I'm home.”

My entire body started shaking.

I spun around and pointed the kitchen knife at him.

“Who the hell are you?”

Luther looked startled.

Then he glanced at the television and seemed to understand.

He explained that the man on the news merely happened to share his name.

The age didn't match.

Neither did the occupation.

It was just a coincidence.

I nodded and slowly lowered my guard.

Luther took the knife from my hand and pulled me into his arms, soothing me.

Then, just like before, he half guided, half carried me out of the kitchen.

'Just like before?'

Why had I thought that?

Something flashed through my mind.

It disappeared before I could catch it.

At dinner, I clumsily began testing Luther.

I lied about how I liked my mashed potatoes.

I deliberately reached for my food before he'd even sat down.

I let a piece of ginger end up on my plate.

Then I lied about my mother's birthday.

Luther caught every single one.

His answers were flawless.

And yet I still couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

What was I missing?

That night, I lay in bed tossing and turning.

Eventually, Luther came to bed, pulled me into his arms, and asked if I was okay.

Then he suggested we go grocery shopping tomorrow.

Only then did sleep suddenly wash over me.

I fell asleep in his arms.

Once again, I woke sometime after midnight.

I sensed Luther getting out of bed and heading toward the office.

A thick, unnatural drowsiness tugged at me.

I should have closed my eyes again.

Gone back to sleep.

Waited until morning.

But just as my eyes slipped shut, my phone lit up on the nightstand.

It vibrated three times.

Curious who could possibly be messaging me this late, I fought through the fog in my head and picked it up.

'Hello, this is the locksmith company. We're sorry to bother you so late.

Regarding the appointment you made this afternoon to open your home office, unfortunately our technician may not be able to make it tomorrow. A family emergency came up and he had to take the day off. You may want to contact another company or reschedule with us.

If you reschedule, we can offer you thirty percent off. Would that work for you?'

I glanced at the time.

12:01 a.m.

It was already the fourteenth.

But I had absolutely no memory of calling a locksmith yesterday.

We had spare keys for every door in the house.

Why would I need a locksmith?

Then I suddenly remembered Luther getting out of bed moments ago.

That familiar suffocating feeling crashed over me.

Fragments of memory flooded my mind all at once, tangled and chaotic.

Without thinking, I reached beneath my pillow.

My fingers closed around a small knife.

I had no idea when it had been placed there.

But somehow, I knew I'd put it there myself.

I slipped it into my sleeve with practiced ease.

As if I'd done it a thousand times before.

Then I got out of bed and headed toward the office.

I didn't knock.

I simply reached for the handle.

Click.

The door opened.

The room beyond was pitch-black.

I couldn't make out a thing.

I reached along the wall, searching for the light switch.

Then suddenly, someone grabbed my wrist.

Luther's low voice came out of the darkness.

“Lily.”

A pause.

“So you figured it out after all.”