Three days after we moved in, my phone rang. “Emma?” a trembling voice said. “I used to own your house… I forgot to disconnect a camera.” My heart stopped when he added, “I saw your husband. On your couch. With another woman.” Just then, the front door opened — and Mark walked in smiling.

THE CALL I ALMOST IGNORED

Three days after we moved into our new house in Cedar Ridge, my phone rang while I was unpacking Lily’s lunchboxes.

Unknown number.

I almost let it go to voicemail.

Then it rang again. Immediately.

“Hi… is this Emma Carter?” a man asked, his voice tight with something that sounded like guilt. “My name is Daniel Mercer. I used to own your house.”

My stomach dipped. “Is there a problem with the plumbing? The deed?”

“No,” he said quickly. Then he swallowed. “I forgot to remove a camera. It was still connected to my phone. I got a motion alert. I opened it… and I saw your husband. With another woman. On your couch.”

For a second, I heard the words but didn’t understand them.

“What camera?” I asked.