Celeste leaned forward, her jewelry clinking.

“Be smart for once in your life,” she whispered. “Take the money and leave.”

I didn’t touch the paper.

I looked at Marisol Keene.

“Do you know what Graham plans to build on that land?” I asked her.

“I don’t care about his plans,” Marisol said. “I care about the deed.”

“He told you it was clean,” I said.

“It is clean,” Graham snapped, his face reddening. “The title search came back clear.”

“That’s because you haven’t looked in the right places,” I said.

I opened the latch of my briefcase with a sharp click.

The sound seemed to echo in the quiet room.

I reached inside, but before I pulled anything out, the door to the conference room opened.

Alden Vale walked in, his face pale and sweating despite the cool morning.

Graham froze.

“Alden?” Graham said, his voice dropping. “What are you doing here?”

Alden didn’t look at Graham.

He looked at me, then at the briefcase in my hands.

“I brought the archive files,” Alden said, his voice trembling.

I smiled, keeping my hand inside the briefcase.