“What did he say?” Arthur asked.

“He has Thomas,” I whispered.

“He wants the ledger and the deeds.”

“In exchange for

“In exchange for Thomas’s life,” I said.

My voice sounded small in the damp cabin.

Arthur rubbed his wrinkled forehead with his thumb.

The skin there was yellowed and dry like old parchment.

“He will kill Thomas anyway, Kiera,” Arthur said.

“Once he has that ledger, you both are liabilities.”

I looked down at the black leather cover of the ledger.

It smelled of mildew and old dust.

My fingers traced the rusted metal lock I had just forced open.

Inside were the names of people I had known my whole life.

Oakhill was a small town.

Everyone knew everyone, or so I had thought.

“I can’t just let him die,” I said.

“Thomas is a fool, but he is my husband.”

fourteen years of marriage did not disappear because of a phone call.

Even if those fourteen years were built on a foundation of lies.

“Marcus is not a man who keeps his word,” Arthur said.

He walked over to the small wood stove in the corner.