Welcome to Case Closed.

You're listening to The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins,

narrated by Emily Schaefer, Lauren Fortgang, and Kirby Haybourne.

Let's pick up where we left off last time.

Chapter 14.

For the next week, I try so hard not to think about Emily or Campbell or any of that,

try not to want more than I have.

What I have is, after all, like winning the fucking lottery,

and I've learned the hard way that wanting more is what fucks you in the end.

But it sits there under my skin, itching, the way they'd looked at me,

the questions, the insults disguised as jokes. And it's not just

the Thornfield ladies. It's John. It's whoever was calling him and asking questions. I feel like

he got what he wanted that day in the Home Depot parking lot, to lord something over me, to watch my

fear and anxiety creep in, plus 200 bucks out of the deal.

Surely that was enough for him. And as weird as it sounds, I trust John. Okay, trust is not the right

word. I know him, I guess. People like him. All of us who stayed permanent foster kids,

who met at group homes or shelters, John might follow me and maybe even call one of these days

making insinuations, but he's not going to turn me over to the cops. Or at least, I don't think he will. Being Mrs. Rochester feels like

another brick in the wall between me and threats like that. Like maybe John wouldn't even

attempt it if he thought it would involve Eddie. So, that's the plan, the new plan.

It's not enough to live with Eddie.

Being the girlfriend is not the way in.

...