CRASH!

Evelyn dropped her grocery bag.

A glass jar shattered across the wooden floor.

Michael barely noticed.

He was listening to the basement.

Three knocks.

Then silence.

"Rachel?" he called.

A weak voice answered.

"Michael... our little butterfly..."

Harper gasped.

"That's what Mommy calls me!"

Before the accident, Rachel had always called Harper Little Butterfly.

She even made up a special bedtime song.

"Little butterfly, close your eyes,
Moonlight dances in the skies..."

Harper began singing the familiar words.

From somewhere beneath the house, another voice joined her.

Soft.

Broken.

But unmistakable.

Michael's eyes filled with tears.

He had heard that song hundreds of times.

Rachel used to sing it while rocking Harper to sleep.

Evelyn stepped backward.

"Michael, please. Let me explain."

He turned toward her.

"Open that door."

She didn't move.

"NOW."

Evelyn reached slowly into her pocket.

A small brass key slipped between her fingers.

Chapter cliffhanger: When Michael reached for the key, Evelyn suddenly ran toward the front door.