“Mrs. Thornton, this is a private board meeting,” the taller guard said, shifting his weight to block me.

“I am Ethan’s wife,” I said, my voice echoing in the hallway. “And I represent his interest in this house.”

Before he could grab my arm, I gripped the heavy brass handles and pushed the doors open.

The library was bathed in the warm, yellow glow of green-shaded banker lamps.

A long mahogany table stretched across the Persian rug.

Twelve men and women in dark, tailored suits sat around it, their faces grim.

At the head of the table sat Jason Thornton.

He had a fountain pen in his hand, hovering over a thick stack of legal documents.

He looked up as the door swung open, his eyes narrowing.

“What is the meaning of this?” Jason asked, his voice dripping with annoyance. “This meeting is closed to family members who are not on the board.”

“The meeting is a fraud, Jason,” I said, stepping into the room.

I closed the heavy doors behind me, the click of the latch sounding like a gunshot.