Chapter 1

Savannah shakily fit her key into the front door. She hadn’t heard from Seb—her husband—all day. That was unusual for them. His SUV was parked out front, which was also odd. He always used the garage. She had to park behind him in the driveway.

It struck her that she hadn’t used her front keys in a long time. Something about the whole scene felt… off. Subtly, unnervingly off. She shook the discomfort away and reached for the doorknob.

The moment the door opened, a sharp, metallic tang hit her nostrils—iron and rot. The scent sliced through her nerves, which were already on edge.

Her knees buckled as she followed the scent.

As she descended into her home, what once was a sacred place of solace became her worst nightmare.

Rounding the corner into the living room, she saw her beloved husband on the ground behind the sofa. His body was motionless.

“Seb!” she shrieked, rushing to him.

Dropping to her knees, she pressed her fingers against his still-warm flesh, checking for a pulse. There was none.

In hysterics, the grief-stricken woman didn’t even register the blood staining her hands. Her darling husband.

This could not be.

She fumbled frantically for the house phone on the side table, dialed 9-1-1, and between ragged sobs, cried:

“Help me, please. Someone has murdered my husband!”