“You won’t see a single dime for diapers, let alone tuition.”

“You will raise that child in a studio apartment on food stamps while I fight you in court.”

Adelaide hung up her phone and walked over, her face pale but her eyes sharp.

“She’s right, Natalie,” Adelaide whispered. “Victoria can do it.”

“Unless,” Victoria said, pausing to let the word hang in the dry air.

She leaned in close enough that I could see the tiny lines around her eyes.

“Unless you sign a non-disclosure agreement regarding Julian’s identity.”

“We tell the press Tyler is hospitalized.”

“We handle the federal charges quietly, behind closed doors.”

“And in exchange, I will establish a private trust for your baby.”

I stared at her, disgusted by the sheer calculation in her eyes.

“You want me to help you cover up a federal crime?” I asked.

“I want to protect the Callahan name,” Victoria said.

“And you want to feed your child.”

She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a small, encrypted black smartphone.

“My lawyer is on line one,” Victoria said, holding the screen toward me.