The Scorpion Nest: A Short Story Read online

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  Sonnet turned back toward the living room and grabbed her cell phone. “I’ll be in the office. I’m calling Scott.” She didn’t wait for confirmation from her husband before proceeding to the office, which was situated just off the foyer and stairwell. She closed the office’s double doors before dialing the real estate agent.

  “Hey, beautiful,” Scott said.

  “Don’t. Not now.”

  “Ouch.”

  Sonnet paced in front of the room’s large desk. “We need to talk, Scott. This place is infested with scorpions. You have any idea how terrifying this is?”

  “Why are you mad at me? I warned you; with a new housing development it was possible you might find a few bugs.”

  “This is a lot more than a few.”

  “Does it matter? It’s not like you’re gonna be there forever.”

  Sonnet crossed her arms and exhaled.

  “And you probably shouldn’t be calling me. Joel might get suspicious.”

  “I don’t know how much more I can hide from him.”

  “Says the one who’s hiding a shit load of cash and a divorce lawyer. I’d say you’re pretty good at keeping secrets.”

  “Well, what am I supposed to tell him now? When he finds the report and calls the pest inspector—”

  “I don’t know, you figure it out. I’m not getting involved.”

  Sonnet rolled her eyes. “You’re already involved.”

  Joel barged into the room.

  Sonnet’s heart skipped a beat.

  “Grab your flashlight,” Joel said.

  Sonnet waited for Joel to leave before she exhaled again and told Scott she had to go. She found Joel waiting for her at the stairwell. They shared a quick glance before she went into the living room to get her UV flashlight.

  How much did he hear?

  She reconvened with Joel at the base of the stairwell. He greeted her with a heartwarming smile, one that now picked at the scar of guilt festering in the back of her mind. He apparently hadn’t heard much.