The Sixth Key Was With Her Ex

I watched the locksmith work and asked him, "Are you sure there are six?""Positive. This German lock cylinder comes standard with two master keys and four secondary keys. A lot of families have them installed. I wouldn't get it wrong."He glanced back at me. "Sounds like you might be missing a key. You'll want to track that down. If you're sure it's lost, get the lock changed. Last thing you need is some thief finding it."I didn't say anything, but I was confused. I only remembered five keys in total. I'd never seen a sixth one.The only reason I'd called a locksmith in the first place was because I'd left my keys at the office and needed to grab some documents in a hurry.Just then, I heard a click, and the door opened.I Venmoed the locksmith fifty bucks, walked inside, and opened the drawer at the back of the entryway.Since we usually used the fingerprint scanner and keypad, the three spare keys—each with a little cartoon charm—were still lying in their velvet box. Add the

I didn't say anything. I just stared at the storage bin all the way in the back, under the bed.It was a clear plastic bin, filled with off-season bedding. But tucked into the folds of the white silk comforter was the corner of some black fabric.A man's dress pants leg.He'd climbed into the biggest storage bin.This old-style bed had a lot of space underneath. If the bin was deliberately left slightly open, hiding a grown man for half an hour wouldn't be a problem at all.I stood up. Instead of exposing him right away, I nodded along with what Jessica had said."Maybe you're right. I've been working too much lately. I'm sorry, babe. I was being too sensitive."To make it up to you, I'll cook tonight. Honey, can you boil some water for me?"Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the bed skirt trembling slightly. I laughed to myself.'Kyle, if you want to play hide-and-seek, I'll raise the stakes.'Jessica clearly didn't want me staying in the house.She grabbed my hand. "Honey,

I shook out my hand and straightened my collar. "Breaking and entering plus assault. If you want to call the cops, be my guest."Then I opened the door and walked out.The police arrived quickly. The lead officer was a woman in her forties. Her eyes moved between me and Kyle."Who called 911?""I did."I put out my cigarette and pulled up the security footage on my phone. "Someone broke into my house. This is the evidence."Officer Julia Spencer took the phone, watched for a few seconds, and frowned. She turned to Kyle. "Sir, I need to see your ID."Kyle pulled out his wallet and handed it over stiffly. "I'm friends with the homeowner's wife. I had a key. That doesn't count as breaking in.""Where did you get the key?"Kyle opened his mouth, then said nothing.Suddenly, Jessica came running out of the bedroom, red-eyed, shouting, "I gave him the key! He didn't break in — I invited him over!"Officer Spencer glanced at Jessica, her expression completely neutral, and jotted so

"I don't want a divorce!" Jessica suddenly grabbed my hand. "Mark, I love you. Kyle is in the past. I don't have feelings for him anymore. I just lost my head for a second…""You've been sneaking around with him since last month, and you call that losing your head for a second?"Jessica, let me ask you something. If I had hidden my ex-girlfriend in our house yesterday, would you forgive me?"She was quiet for a long time.Finally, she said, "Yes."She looked up at me, her expression deadly serious. "Because I love you. I could forgive you once.""Then you don't know me. I can't."I pushed the papers closer to her. "If you won't sign, we'll see each other in court."I gathered up the torn pieces of paper. "Not only will you walk away with nothing, but you'll also owe me for emotional damages.""You really think you can leave me with nothing?" She laughed coldly. "Mark, the signature on that prenup of yours? It's fake."I froze. "What did you say?""I said, when you made me si