“Ten minutes,” Marcus said. “We’ll beat her there by a comfortable margin.”

“We need to set up the recording equipment,” I said. “If we don’t get her on tape admitting to her connection with Apex, this is just our word against hers.”

“Marcus has a digital recorder in the glove box,” Damon said. “It’s encrypted. It will link directly to my secure server.”

Marcus reached over, opened the compartment, and handed a small, rectangular black device back to me.

It was no larger than a key fob, with a single sliding button on the side.

“Keep it in your pocket,” Damon said. “Do not touch it once she arrives.”

“I know how to do this,” I said, my voice firmer now.

Damon reached out, his thumb brushing my cheek, tracing the line of my jaw.

“I don’t like you being the bait, Nora,” he said.

“It’s the only way to end this,” I said. “She knows where Leo is. Until she is behind bars, our son is never safe.”

The SUV began to climb the steep, winding road that led up the north ridge.