“You drop them,” Michael said.

“You tell the police you fell.”

“We have a doctor who will write a statement confirming you’ve had a history of balance issues.”

I let out a cold, sharp laugh.

“A history of balance issues?” I asked.

“I am a surgeon.”

“If you put that in a medical report, you ruin my career anyway.”

They hadn’t thought of that.

Or they didn’t care.

“It’s the only way, Elizabeth,” Daniel said, his voice pleading.

“Please.”

“She is our aunt.”

“She is a criminal, Daniel,” I said.

“And you are an accessory.”

I reached out suddenly, my hand darting toward the green folder on the coffee table.

Michael was older, but he was fast.

He grabbed my wrist, his fingers clamping down hard.

“Let go of me, Michael,” I said, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

“Don’t do this, Elizabeth,” he said.

The room went completely still.

The only sound was the wind rattling the glass panes of the front window.

Suddenly, Daniel’s phone began to vibrate on the counter behind him.

At the same second, my own phone in my pocket buzzed with a sharp, persistent ring.