“Let them,” Arthur said, a rare spark of anger in his eyes.

“They have taken enough from this town, and from you.”

Just then, the landline phone on Marcus’s desk began to ring.

The shrill sound made us all jump.

Marcus walked over and picked up the receiver.

“Marcus Vance,” he said.

He listened for a moment, his face growing serious.

“Are you sure?” Marcus asked the caller.

He looked over at me, his eyes wide under his glasses.

He set the phone down on the desk but didn’t hang it up.

“That was the bank’s compliance officer,” Marcus said slowly.

“They just flagged another transaction.”

“From the trust?” Wyatt asked.

“No,” Marcus said, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“From Sadie’s personal savings account.”

“My savings account?” I asked.

My voice sounded thin, even to my own ears.

“How is that possible? I am the only signer on that account.”

Marcus rubbed his temple, his fingers pressing hard against his skin.

“Your mother was added as a custodian when you were seventeen,” he said. “She was never removed.”

“She is draining it,” Wyatt said, his hand tightening around mine.