The Lingerie Thief Next Door - Chapter 9: Chapter 9
You are reading The Lingerie Thief Next Door, Chapter 9: Chapter 9. Read more chapters of The Lingerie Thief Next Door.
After Aunt Margaret moved in with us, Leonard's health took a noticeable turn for the better. Life settled into a warm, comforting rhythm.
Then, one quiet afternoon, everything shattered.
I was lounging at home when Leonard and Aunt Margaret took Benny out for a stroll. Suddenly, the front door rattled under a barrage of violent pounding.
Heart leaping into my throat, I bolted upright from the couch and rushed to the door. "Who is it?" I called out, my voice tight.
"Open up! Does Leonard Roscente live here?"
That was my father-in-law's name. Our neighborhood was safe—burglars weren't a concern—but the fury in that voice sent a chill down my spine.
I cracked the door open to find a middle-aged couple, faces twisted with rage, and behind them, a trembling young girl.
"Who are you?" I asked cautiously.
The woman ignored me, shoving against the door. "Where's Leonard? Get that filthy old man out here—I'll tear him apart!"
Adrenaline spiked through me as I blocked her path. "You don't just barge into my house! Who are you?"
She gave me a slow, ugly once-over and sneered. "Oh, you must be Leonard's daughter-in-law. Pretty little thing." Her voice dripped venom. "Guess even someone like you wasn't enough for that pervert, huh?"
The words hit like a slap. My face burned—memories of my own past misunderstanding about Leonard, that humiliating dream, flooding back.
"You break into my home and start throwing around insane accusations?" I snapped, yanking out my phone. "I'm calling the police—"
She lunged, smacking the phone from my hand. "Oh, you'll want to hear this first! Your precious father-in-law—Leonard Roscente—molested my daughter! She's twelve! That sick bastard put his hands under her clothes, tried to—" Her voice cracked into a shriek. "What's my baby supposed to do now?!"
The world tilted. My mind blanked.
Neighbors had gathered, murmuring, their stares like brands on my skin.
"That's impossible," I choked out. "Leonard would never—"
"My daughter named him!" the man roared, shoving the girl forward. "Tell her! Was it him?"
The girl peeked at me, then dropped her gaze, silent.
My hands shook. This couldn't be real.
Then, from the crowd: "He's back!"
Leonard's voice cut through the noise, bewildered. "What's going on? Why is everyone—?"
The woman flew at him, nails raking toward his face. "You disgusting pig! My baby's twelve, and you—!"
Leonard dodged, stunned. "What in God's name—?"
She screamed her accusations.
Leonard's face darkened with outrage. "That's a lie!"
She ignored him, demanding money—threatening lawsuits, prison. She had witnesses, she claimed. Classmates who'd identified him.
She jerked the girl forward again. "Tell them! Was it him?"
The girl hesitated—then nodded.
Leonard went deathly still.
The woman's smirk was triumphant.
Ice filled my veins.
"Call the cops," I spat. "Now."
But she refused—her daughter's reputation, she wailed.
Then my husband arrived. Together, we tried dragging them to the police station.
They fought like wild animals, howling protests—before finally fleeing, screaming they'd be back.
Then, one quiet afternoon, everything shattered.
I was lounging at home when Leonard and Aunt Margaret took Benny out for a stroll. Suddenly, the front door rattled under a barrage of violent pounding.
Heart leaping into my throat, I bolted upright from the couch and rushed to the door. "Who is it?" I called out, my voice tight.
"Open up! Does Leonard Roscente live here?"
That was my father-in-law's name. Our neighborhood was safe—burglars weren't a concern—but the fury in that voice sent a chill down my spine.
I cracked the door open to find a middle-aged couple, faces twisted with rage, and behind them, a trembling young girl.
"Who are you?" I asked cautiously.
The woman ignored me, shoving against the door. "Where's Leonard? Get that filthy old man out here—I'll tear him apart!"
Adrenaline spiked through me as I blocked her path. "You don't just barge into my house! Who are you?"
She gave me a slow, ugly once-over and sneered. "Oh, you must be Leonard's daughter-in-law. Pretty little thing." Her voice dripped venom. "Guess even someone like you wasn't enough for that pervert, huh?"
The words hit like a slap. My face burned—memories of my own past misunderstanding about Leonard, that humiliating dream, flooding back.
"You break into my home and start throwing around insane accusations?" I snapped, yanking out my phone. "I'm calling the police—"
She lunged, smacking the phone from my hand. "Oh, you'll want to hear this first! Your precious father-in-law—Leonard Roscente—molested my daughter! She's twelve! That sick bastard put his hands under her clothes, tried to—" Her voice cracked into a shriek. "What's my baby supposed to do now?!"
The world tilted. My mind blanked.
Neighbors had gathered, murmuring, their stares like brands on my skin.
"That's impossible," I choked out. "Leonard would never—"
"My daughter named him!" the man roared, shoving the girl forward. "Tell her! Was it him?"
The girl peeked at me, then dropped her gaze, silent.
My hands shook. This couldn't be real.
Then, from the crowd: "He's back!"
Leonard's voice cut through the noise, bewildered. "What's going on? Why is everyone—?"
The woman flew at him, nails raking toward his face. "You disgusting pig! My baby's twelve, and you—!"
Leonard dodged, stunned. "What in God's name—?"
She screamed her accusations.
Leonard's face darkened with outrage. "That's a lie!"
She ignored him, demanding money—threatening lawsuits, prison. She had witnesses, she claimed. Classmates who'd identified him.
She jerked the girl forward again. "Tell them! Was it him?"
The girl hesitated—then nodded.
Leonard went deathly still.
The woman's smirk was triumphant.
Ice filled my veins.
"Call the cops," I spat. "Now."
But she refused—her daughter's reputation, she wailed.
Then my husband arrived. Together, we tried dragging them to the police station.
They fought like wild animals, howling protests—before finally fleeing, screaming they'd be back.
End of The Lingerie Thief Next Door Chapter 9. Continue reading Chapter 10 or return to The Lingerie Thief Next Door book page.