Becky’s room had not changed. Since Tracy and Kim shared custody, Tracy had gotten new furniture for her daughter and left the old where it was. Becky didn’t mind and preferred to leave what she considered her childhood objects in her old room. She’d not even taken her stuffed animal collection.
The idea that Becky was gone was inconceivable to Tracy. She’d been the center of Tracy’s life, particularly after Tracy’s relationship with Kim had deteriorated.
Tracy took a deep breath and pulled the door closed. As she walked down toward the master suite, she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her knuckle. She knew from her professional experience how difficult the next few months would be for her and for Kim.
Tracy entered the master bath directly from the hall instead of going around through the bedroom. Once inside, she flicked on the light and closed the door behind her. She surveyed the room. It wasn’t nearly as clean as it had always been when she lived in the house, yet it was still beautiful, with its granite-topped vanity and marble shower.
Leaning into the shower stall, she turned on the water and adjusted the showerhead to deliver a pulsating jet. Then she opened the generous closet and got out a large bath towel along with a Turkish robe. Placing them on the vanity, she began to remove her damp clothes.
Carlos heard the shower and smiled. This job was going to be easier than he’d imagined. He was standing in the walk-in closet in the master bedroom, intending to wait until Kim unknowingly opened the door. But hearing the shower running, he thought it would be better to corner the doctor in such a conveniently confined space Escape would be impossible.
Carlos cracked the door and a sliver of pale light fell across his face. He looked out. The bedroom was still mostly dark with the only light coming from the bathroom. Carlos was pleased about this as well. It meant he would not have to worry about being seen as he approached the bathroom. For what he had to do, surprise was an important element.
Carlos opened the door wide enough to step out into the room. He had his knife in his right hand.
Moving like a cat advancing on its prey, Carlos inched forward. With each step, he could see progressively more of the bathroom’s interior through the open passageway connecting the rooms. He saw a hand flash by and drop clothing onto the counter.
Taking one more step, Carlos had a full view of the bathroom, and he froze. It wasn’t Kim. It was a strikingly lithe, sexy woman in the process of unhooking her bra. In an instant, her soft, white breasts were revealed. The woman then hooked her thumbs beneath the elastic of her panties and pulled them off.
Carlos was transfixed by this unexpected but welcome spectacle, as Tracy turned her back toward him and climbed into the billowing mist coming from the shower stall. She closed the moisture-streaked glass door behind her, and threw her towel over a bar at the shower’s rear.
Carlos moved forward as if drawn to a siren. He wanted a better view.
Tracy put her hand under the water spray then pulled it clear. It was much too hot, which was what she expected. It had been her intent to turn the shower stall into a modified steam bath.
Reaching behind the stream of water, she adjusted the mixing valve. While she waited for the water temperature to change, she glanced at the soap dish and noticed it was empty. The bar was out at the sink.
Tracy opened the door to get the soap when a flicker of light caught her attention. It had come from the bedroom. At first she couldn’t believe her eyes, and she blinked. There was the spectral image of a man in black standing just within the penumbra of the bathroom light. The flash had come from the blade of an enormous knife in the man’s right hand.
For a beat the two people stared at each other, Tracy in shocked horror and Carlos in libidinous interest.