I looked at the glowing blue light of the backup drive sitting on the table next to Jake’s military laptop.

That drive contained every transaction log, every forged signature, and every shell company Walter and Logan had used to drain Jake’s accounts while he was listed as missing in action.

“If I do that, I have no leverage,” Jake said.

“If you don’t do it, Walter is going to ruin you by morning,” Logan said. “He’s already got the local police chief on his side. They’re going to serve the custody papers and the psychiatric hold together.”

Jake stood up straight, his face shadowed as he looked down at the floorboards.

He didn’t answer immediately.

The silence stretched so long that I could hear the faint hum of the refrigerator.

“Jake?” Logan asked, his voice sounding smaller now. “Are you there?”

Jake looked at me, and for a fraction of a second, his left eyelid flickered in a slow, deliberate wink.

“Where is the deed, Logan?” Jake asked, his voice suddenly sounding tired, almost defeated.