ALEX'S POINT OF VIEW
The house was too quiet.
I knew something was wrong the second I walked through the door. It wasn't just the silence. There was something else. An absence that felt heavier than it should have. Elena should have been home by now. Either back from work or visiting her mother. But the house felt empty in a way that made my chest tighten.
"Elena?" I called out, dropping my briefcase by the door.
No answer.
I loosened my tie and headed toward the kitchen. Marie was wiping down the counters, and she looked up when I entered.
"Marie, is my wife upstairs?"
She shook her head. "No, Mr. Reyes. Mrs. Reyes left this morning and hasn't returned yet."
I frowned. "What time did she leave?"
"Around nine, I think. She seemed upset about something. She was in a hurry. She asked for the driver right away and left."
