“Stay here with the guard, Daniel,” I said.

“You have a lot of questions to answer.”

I grabbed my military cover from the small table by the front door.

The fabric felt familiar and solid in my hands.

General Hayes was already walking down the front steps, his stride long and purposeful.

The cold morning air hit my face as I stepped outside.

The gravel crunched under my boots as I walked toward the military SUV parked at the curb.

The officer with the tablet followed close behind me, his eyes still glued to the screen.

“The wipe is forty percent complete,” the officer reported.

“We have about ten minutes before the drive is completely blank.”

“Get in,” Hayes said, opening the door of the SUV.

I climbed into the back seat, my mind racing.

If Patricia was wiping her drive, she knew we were coming.

And if she was moving the family trust money, she wasn’t just trying to ruin my reputation.

She was planning to run.

The driver started the engine, the powerful motor roaring to life in the quiet neighborhood.