“By tomorrow morning, we were supposed to be registered as the legal owners of this house,” Ethan said. “We were going to borrow against the equity before anyone noticed the trust was empty.”

The sound of boots on the wooden stairs grew louder.

“Sheriff’s department!” the voice boomed from just below the hatchway. “We are coming up!”

“Stay down!” Ethan screamed, turning the gun toward the opening.

“They know, Ethan,” Megan said, her voice suddenly cold. “They know everything.”

She pointed toward my pocket, where the blue light of my phone was shining through the dark wool.

Ethan’s eyes followed her finger, landing on my coat.

His face drained of color as he realized what I was holding.

Behind us, the door to the hidden compartment behind the wardrobe swung fully open with a loud, heavy groan.

A tall shadow stood in the narrow gap, lit by the pale yellow light from the secret room.

The shadow resolved into a solid frame.

Daniel Voss stepped into the dim light of the attic room.

He held a heavy, tarnished brass key in his right hand, his knuckles white from the grip.