I stared at him, my mind working furiously.

If I told him I didn’t have them, he might hurt Thomas right here.

If I told him they were at the cabin, he would send his men there.

“I left them,” I said.

“I left them with someone.”

“If we don’t return by midnight, they go to the federal prosecutor in Cleveland.”

Marcus stared at me for a long moment.

Then he looked at Vance.

“Is she bluffing?” Marcus asked.

“Kiera doesn’t know any federal prosecutors,” Vance said.

“She doesn’t leave Oakhill.”

“Her whole life is within ten miles of this desk.”

“She’s lying.”

Marcus stepped closer to me.

He leaned down, his face inches from mine.

I could smell stale tobacco and peppermint on his breath.

“Where are the deeds, Kiera?” he asked softly.

Before I could answer, the phone on Sheriff Vance’s desk began to ring.

The sound was loud and sharp in the quiet room.

Vance looked at the display.

“It’s the front desk line,” Vance said.

“Miller, go check the cameras.”

Miller nodded and left the room.

The phone kept ringing.

One.