“She also wants a signed agreement that you will not name her as a co-conspirator in the asset concealment suit.”

Robert looked at me.

His pen was poised over a yellow legal pad.

I nodded slowly.

“We can agree to the referral and the non-disclosure,” Robert said into the speaker.

“But we need to verify the accounts first.”

“We will meet,” Helen said.

“A neutral location.”

“The diner off Route 9, near the county line.”

“Two hours from now.”

The line went dead with a soft click.

Robert stood up and reached for his overcoat on the rack.

“Are you ready for this?” he asked.

“I have to be,” I said.

My mind went to Lily and Ethan.

They were safe at my sister-in-law Rachel’s house by the coast, but I still felt a deep unease.

The drive took us nearly an hour.

The rain turned heavy, hammering against the windshield of Robert’s sedan.

The coastal wind began to shake the car as we neared the county line.

The landscape changed from brick buildings to gray marshland and dark trees.