BREAKING STORY! streamed across the top of the screen, white letters against a band of red. Then, BODY FOUND IN STORAGE UNIT.

Voice-over, a woman newscaster: “A gruesome discovery today. East Hartwell police are investigating a man’s body found in a self-storage unit. Stay tuned for an update on this late-breaking story.”

Emily pushed the pillow behind her and sat up in bed, waiting out what felt like an endless stream of ads until finally the same introduction ran, this time over video of the entrance to Inner Peace Storage.

Frank came out of the bathroom, toothbrush in hand, and watched as, behind the newscaster, a police cruiser drove out of the storage facility.

“Isn’t that your car?” Frank asked.

Emily cringed. Sure enough, there was her Honda, trailing behind the cruiser. At least the camera was angled so that viewers couldn’t see the Clutter Kickers logo on her door.

“Good thing—” Their front door chimed and Frank broke off. He looked at his watch. “What the hell?”

Emily went to the window and looked out. She fully expected to see Quinn’s red Miata or a police cruiser in front of the house. But the vehicle parked in front was a dark green pickup truck.

Frank looked out the window from behind her. “I’ll go see who it is.” He went into the bathroom and emerged moments later, wiping his face on a hand towel.

“Emily? Frank?” Lila’s tremulous voice came from the other side of the bedroom door. “Do you want me to get that?”

“No, thank you, we do not want you to get that,” Frank said, enunciating each word. He pulled open the bedroom door and brushed past Lila. “Stay up here, both of you.” Delivered like they were a pair of dogs who’d mastered sit and stay.

Emily put on her robe and joined Lila in the upstairs hallway. She couldn’t see past the bend in the staircase, but she heard the front door open. Then Frank’s voice, barely audible. “What do you want?”

Emily couldn’t make out the reply, just a man’s gruff voice. She crept down to where she could see Frank’s legs.

“We’re done.” Frank’s voice. “Case closed. There’s nothing left to discuss.”

“You lied. You wouldn’t want me to go public—”

“I didn’t lie. I don’t lie.”

“Left out a few details, then—”

After a hushed back-and-forth, Frank said, “You have nothing to worry about. Just calm down. It’s what you agreed to. You cashed the check and signed a nondisclosure.”

The man spoke some more, but Emily caught only the tail end when his voice rose. “You can’t seriously think—”

“Shhh. You’ll wake my wife.”

Her heart pounding, Emily backed up a few steps. She bumped into Lila. “Who’s that?” Lila whispered.

“No idea,” Emily whispered back.

Frank again. “You need to leave. Right now. We’re done.”