“If she found proof of those transactions, she had enough to put them both away for life,” I said.

“We’ll find it, Audrey,” he said, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “But we have to be smart. We can’t let Beatrice know we’re one step ahead.”

We entered the city limits, the bright neon signs of the downtown district reflecting off the wet asphalt.

Chloe’s apartment building was an older brick structure tucked between two modern high-rises.

Liam parked the car half a block away, under the shadow of a closed department store.

He reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a small flashlight, slipping it into his coat pocket.

“We go in, we find whatever she was hiding, and we leave,” Liam said, his voice firm. “No lingering.”

“I know,” I said, my heart hammering against my ribs.

We stepped out into the cold rain, pulling our hoods up.

The street was empty, save for a yellow cab idling at the far end of the block.

We walked quickly toward the entrance of Chloe’s building.

I pulled the brass key from my pocket, my fingers cold and trembling.