“He’s the one who authorized my leave to come home.”

“Maybe that was the plan,” Madison said. “To get you here. Where they could control the environment.”

Before I could answer, my phone vibrated in my palm again.

The screen lit up with the same blocked number.

This time, it wasn’t a text.

The phone was ringing.

I hesitated, looking at Madison, then swiped the screen and held the receiver to my ear.

“Natalie,” a voice said.

It was Colonel Hayes.

His voice was low, raspy, and accompanied by the faint hum of a car engine in the background.

“Colonel,” I said, keeping my tone flat, professional. “I didn’t expect a call from you tonight.”

“Listen to me very carefully,” Hayes said, ignoring my greeting. “You need to get out of that house. Now.”

“Why is that, sir?” I asked.

I looked down at the death certificate bearing his signature.

“There are things moving behind the scenes that you do not understand,” Hayes said. “Your father has local assets. If you stay there, you are putting yourself and your sister in extreme danger.”