“I didn’t miss,” I said. “I’m not signing away my mother’s house.”

“Then he dies first,” Ethan said, turning the barrel toward Daniel.

Daniel stood perfectly still. He didn’t even blink.

“You don’t have the nerve, Ethan,” Daniel said. “You’re a thief, not a killer.”

“Don’t tempt me,” Ethan said, his finger tightening on the trigger.

In my pocket, the faint vibration started again.

A tiny, metallic voice began to speak from inside the fabric of my coat.

“911 operator, what is your emergency?” the voice whispered.

The sound was small, but in the quiet attic, it sounded like a bell.

Ethan froze.

His eyes dropped to my pocket.

“What is that?” he whispered, his face turning white.

I reached into my pocket and slowly pulled the phone out.

The bright green screen illuminated the dust motes dancing in the air between us.

The call timer showed two minutes and twelve seconds.

“We have your location, ma’am,” the operator’s voice said clearly through the speaker. “Deputies are arriving at the gate now. Remain calm.”

Ethan stared at the screen, his mouth hanging open.