“Mrs. Bradford,” the lead agent said, stepping toward us as we entered. “We need to speak with you regarding your mother-in-law’s personal accounts.”

My heart hammered against my ribs, but I kept my face completely still.

“I am Clara Vance,” I said clearly. “And Vivian Bradford no longer represents this company.”

The agent stopped, looking at Arthur, then back to me.

“We have a warrant for the seizure of her assets,” the agent said. “And we have some questions about where the missing funds were moved.”

I looked at the heavy oak table, where a stack of financial ledgers lay open under the bright lights.

The real battle was just beginning.

The lead agent, a tall man named Miller, pulled a chair out for me.

I sat down, the leather cold against my legs.

Marcus remained standing, his hand resting on the back of my chair.

“We have tracked three separate wire transfers originating from the Bradford Group’s primary escrow account,” Agent Miller said.

He slid a document across the polished oak.

The numbers were printed in neat, sterile columns.