The Sixth Key Was With Her Ex

Normally, Jessica wore a professional business suit to work.

But today, underneath her black blazer, she had on a low-cut camisole I'd never seen before. She'd even put on that limited-edition perfume she usually saved for special occasions.

Thinking about the man who might still be hiding in my bedroom, my heart sank.

I didn't rush to confront her. Instead, I spoke casually.

"The locksmith told me our lock comes standard with six keys. But I looked everywhere, and I only found five."

Jessica opened her mouth. "Maybe we remembered wrong when we bought the lock. Or maybe it came with an extra promo key or something. You can't expect to remember every little detail."

She turned and hurried toward the kitchen, trying to cover her nerves by keeping busy.

"Is that so? But I just checked the security camera. Kyle was here."

Jessica whipped her head around. The smile she forced onto her face looked more like she was about to cry.

"What are you talking about? Didn't Kyle move overseas three years ago? You must have misidentified him."

She walked over quickly and tried to grab my hand.

I stepped back and avoided her reach, letting out a cold laugh.

"Misidentified him?"

I pulled up the footage on my phone and held it in front of her face.

"Then tell me what this is. Are you going to say Kyle stole your key, got a copy made, and snuck into our house while we were both at work?"

As I spoke, I walked toward the bedroom.

"Whoever's in there — come out. Stop hiding. I'm giving you two minutes to get out on your own. Otherwise, I'm calling the cops."

The moment she heard the word "cops," Jessica got frantic.

She tried to snatch my phone away. "Honey, let me explain. It's not what you think."

I ignored her.

When the bedroom door still didn't open, I lost it and kicked it in.

But the bedroom was empty.

I couldn't believe it. I threw open the closet.

Still empty. I even checked outside the bedroom window. No sign of Kyle.

But how was that possible?

I went to pull up the footage on my phone again, but Jessica grabbed it and smashed it on the floor.

"I told you — you've just been stressed and seeing things. Are you done making a scene yet?

"Mark, I can't believe you'd suspect me like this after everything we've been through. You've really let me down."

I pressed my fingers against my temples. My head was spinning.

Was I wrong?

But the sixth key and Kyle's figure on the security footage were both telling me otherwise.

I wasn't mistaken.

But just as I bent down to pick up my phone, the strong scent of perfume hit my nose again.

Wait.

The bedroom window was wide open. The smell should have dissipated by now.

Unless the source of the smell was still in the room.

I ignored Jessica's yelling and fixed my eyes on the long bed skirt that touched the floor.

"Mark, are you done yet? How much longer are you going to act crazy?"

Jessica rushed over and tried to push me toward the door.

The more nervous she got, the harder she shoved.

I threw off her hand, crouched down fast, and yanked up the bed skirt.

The space under the bed was empty — just a few dusty storage bins.

Jessica let out a cold laugh.

"Mark, do you have anything in your head besides obsessing over my ex?"