My tablet chimed with a news alert.

The banner headline across the top of the local business journal read: *Hayes Development CEO Indicted on Federal Fraud Charges.*

Below it was a picture of Victor from last year’s charity gala, smiling and holding a champagne flute.

“It’s online,” Evelyn said from the window.

She was holding her phone again, her face pale in the screen’s reflection.

“The Seattle Times just posted it.”

“They have the internal emails, Claire.”

“How did they get the emails?”

“Nathan,” I said.

“He didn’t just go to the feds.”

“He made sure Victor couldn’t buy his way out of the narrative.”

On my tablet screen, Victor was walking back toward the house, his pace hurried, almost stumbling.

The two locksmiths at the gate were watching him, their hands on their hips.

One of them took out his own phone, likely looking at the same news alert.

Victor reached the front doors and tried to pull them open.

But the electronic lock system had already been disabled by the security firm I had hired.

He rattled the handle.