I heard the heavy brass latch of the front door turn.

“Officer Miller,” Evelyn said, her voice steady. “What brings you out here at this hour?”

“Just doing a wellness check,” Miller said.

“We had a report of a suspicious vehicle parked down the lane.”

“That’s my sister’s car,” Evelyn lied without missing a beat. “She left it here after dinner.”

“Is that so?” Miller asked.

I heard his heavy boots step onto the hardwood floor of the entryway.

“We also heard Emily Carter might have paid you a visit,” he said.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

I clutched the ledger tight against my chest, the corners digging into my ribs.

“Emily?” Evelyn asked. “I haven’t seen that girl in ten years.”

“Her husband is very worried about her,” Miller said.

“She took some family documents she shouldn’t have.”

“I don’t know anything about that,” Evelyn said.

I crept toward the back door, my fingers finding the cold metal lock.

I turned it slowly, millimeter by millimeter, trying to prevent the latch from clicking.

The wood frame groaned slightly.