Beside it was the official seal of the state of Illinois.

“Call them,” I said.

Miranda paused, her thumb freezing above the screen.

“Valerie, no,” Elias warned gently.

“Let her call them, Grandfather,” I said.

“You think I won’t?” Miranda asked.

“I know you will,” I said. “Because you have nothing else left.”

She stared at me, the rain beating a frantic rhythm against the glass behind her.

Julian watched his mother, his face grim.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own phone.

A small blue light began to blink on his screen.

“What is that, Julian?” Miranda asked, her voice dropping.

Julian looked down at the device, then back up at his mother.

“I’ve been recording this entire conversation,” Julian said.

The silence that followed was absolute.

Even the wind outside seemed to die down for a brief second.

Miranda’s hand began to tremble, the phone slick in her palm.

Nathaniel Vale took a pair of reading glasses from his pocket and put them on.

He picked up the blue-bound documents and turned to a specific page.