But I had to get to the bank first.

And I had to do it without Graham or Vance Harrison knowing.

Suddenly, a low vibration buzzed from the desk.

I jumped, my heart leaping into my throat.

My phone, which had been completely dead, had flickered back to life.

The screen glowed in the dim room, showing a single percent of battery life.

A text message popped up on the lock screen.

It was from Daniel Reyes.

*Claire, do not stay at the house,* the message read.

*I just ran the names on the secondary accounts.*

*Vance Harrison isn’t just Graham’s partner.*

*He’s—*

The screen went black.

The phone had died again, leaving me in the silence of the room.

Then, a floorboard creaked directly outside the study door.

I slipped the key and the letter into my inner coat pocket.

I held my breath, my chest tight.

The shadow under the study door fractured.

The brass doorknob began to turn, slowly and without a sound.

I stepped back into the shadow of the heavy velvet curtains, pressing myself against the cold glass of the window.