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Charles stalked around the cabin, angry that the key wasn't under the doormat and it wasn't hidden in the light fixture beside the door. There were none of the fake rocks sitting in any of the pots under the windows. He knew they had a hidden key, but he didn't remember where they'd placed it. It was so unfair of them to hide the key where he couldn't find it.

After walking around the cabin a second time, the sun dropping lower in the sky, he let out a frustrated scream. Birds took flight near him, and he watched as they fussed and fretted. It made him feel better to have disturbed the birds. He needed to disturb more. For far too long, he'd been complacent, but he wasn't sitting back on this. No, he would force the psychologist to listen.

Why the fuck was he having so many problems? This should be easier. His life should be easier. He was one of the good ones.

He was about to get into his car and head back to the city when he spied a birdhouse. There was something about the birdhouse. Something his ex had said. What was it? It pissed him off that he couldn’t remember exactly what had been said about the stupid birdhouse. It was something she’d said in an offhand manner. What was it? He beat his hand against the steering wheel, accidentally honking the horn. The birds flew again, and he laughed. They were so easily manipulated.

His thoughts turned back to what his ex had said about the birdhouse. Was that where the key was hidden? He moved to the tree, realizing the birdhouse was low, and the front of it was closed off with a black piece of wood to make it look like it was open. It wasn't a birdhouse any bird could use.

Yes. This had to be it.

He pulled the birdhouse off the nail and spied the key attached to the back of the box. Relief filled him. He removed the tape holding the key to the box and pocketed the key.

He had to make a copy and return the original to the back of the box, or not. He didn’t really care if they had access to their cabin when they wanted. A part of him wanted to toss the birdhouse into the forest since they’d caused him to be out here traipsing around at night, almost making it where he couldn’t use the cabin. They were stupid for having the key in this location and not somewhere closer to the door.

He entered the cabin, thinking it smelled stale. He flipped on a light, thankful they’d run power to this cabin so he wasn’t in the dark. At least that was going for him. He hated how inconsiderate some people were.

He moved to the bar between the kitchen and den, swiping his fingers across the surface. Dust covered his fingers when he pulled them away. He would be forced to clean before he brought that woman out here. She had to see that he was serious about getting his certificate back and once again becoming an air traffic controller. The messy cabin would make him look bad. He had his job cut out for him. Tomorrow, he would open the cabin up and air it out. Then he would dust and clean. After it was clean, he would figure out how to get Doctor Kays out here and convince her he deserved to be a controller.

There wasn’t anything wrong with him. He just needed to get her to understand that whatever she saw to make him lose his job was wrong. Once everything was set for him to return to work, he would be satisfied.