“Ms. Pierce, I need you to show me exactly where those boxes are once the warrant arrives,” Malcolm said.

“I will,” she said quickly. “I’ll show you everything.”

“Good,” Malcolm said. “Now, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Brantley, step over here.”

Two more officers entered through the front door, their uniforms wet from the rain.

The cold air from the open door swept into the dining room, smelling of pine and wet earth.

The officers began to read Evan and Cole their rights.

I watched as the metal handcuffs clicked around Evan’s wrists.

He looked at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of anger and defeat.

“This isn’t over, Claire,” he said as they led him toward the door.

“For you, it is,” I said.

Lydia touched my shoulder.

“We need to stay here while they execute the warrant,” Lydia said. “We need to identify the heirlooms as they bring them out.”

“I want to see what they took,” I said.

We waited in the dining room as the officers secured the hallway.

Sloane sat on the sofa, weeping softly, ignored by everyone.

The minutes ticked by slowly.