Jennifer walked back into the foyer, her coat speckled with melting flakes of snow.

“The deputy is going to do a drive-by every hour tonight,” Jennifer said, pulling off her leather gloves. “Are you alright?”

“Molly just sent me an audio recording,” I said. “Brent went to her house before he came here.”

Jennifer’s eyes narrowed. “Play it.”

I set my phone on the dark walnut console table and pressed play on the audio attachment.

The sound of wind chimes on Molly’s porch filled the quiet hallway, followed by the heavy, muffled thud of someone pacing on wood.

Then, Brent’s voice came through the speaker, sounding thin and frantic.

“Molly, pick up,” Brent’s recorded voice said. “I know you’re in there. I can see the lights.”

There was a pause, and then Molly’s voice came through the intercom. “Go away, Brent. Tessa has a restraining order in progress.”

“Tessa is being brainwashed by that snake Jennifer,” Brent yelled. “You have to listen to me, Molly. If Tessa lets Jennifer sell the house, we are all ruined.”