I looked at the conference room door.

The brass handle remained still, but I knew Harris would be back any second.

“How do I know you’re not trying to double-cross me again?” I asked.

“Because Chloe took my passport,” he said, his voice cracking with panic.

“She locked me out of the safehouse.”

“She’s at the harbor right now, Natalie.”

“She’s meeting Victoria’s fixer.”

A sudden noise echoed from the hallway outside my room.

It sounded like heavy, rushing footsteps.

“I have to go,” Julian whispered.

“I’ll call you from a new number in one hour.”

“If you don’t answer, I’m taking the ledger back to Victoria to buy my life.”

The line went dead.

I slowly lowered the phone.

The screen went black, reflecting my pale face.

The door handle jiggled.

The handle clicked.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Harris walked in, holding a folder.

His tie was slightly loosened at the collar.

He looked tired, the dark circles under his eyes matching the gray of the fluorescent lights.

“Is everything all right, Natalie?” he asked.

I slid the burner phone into my deep coat pocket.