On Tuesday, Martin called. “Denise, the beach house locks are changed. Armed security is on site. If they approach the property, it’s criminal trespassing.”

“Perfect,” I replied, sipping my morning tea.

I didn’t stop there. I went into the “guest room”—which Susan treated as her personal storage locker for her expensive overflow wardrobe—gathered all the high-end linens and towels she had demanded I buy, and threw them in the dumpster. I took down the family portrait in the living room, the one where Susan wore her fake, triumphant smile, and shoved it deep into a closet.