She Didn't See It Coming

Bryden Frost is an accountant in her mid-thirties who lives in Albany, New York. It is 5 o’clock, and she is stuck in traffic on her way to pick up her three-year-old daughter, Clara, from daycare. She is anxious about being late for the pickup. The daycare texts her, and while Bryden is looking at the text message, she rear-ends the Tesla in front of her. A handsome, wealthy man is driving. They exchange information. The driver (later revealed to be Derek Gardner) says that he will be in touch to let Bryden know how she can cover the damage to his back bumper. He drives away.

The narrative skips forward six weeks after the fender-bender. Bryden is eating breakfast with Clara and her husband, Sam, who is a “portfolio manager” for an investment firm. After Sam leaves for work, Bryden drops Clara off at daycare. She returns to their condo to work from home for the day.

At 5:30 that evening, Sam gets a call from Clara’s daycare and learns that Bryden is late picking Clara up and is not answering phone calls or texts. Sam begins to worry. He picks Clara up from daycare and returns home to find Bryden’s car in the parking lot and her cell phone and laptop on the dining-room table.