The line went dead.

I slowly lowered the phone, my mind racing through the tactical implications of his words.

Madison was watching me, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

“What did he say?” she asked.

“He told me to trust no one,” I said. “He said he is on his way here.”

“We can’t trust him,” Madison said immediately. “He signed that paper, Natalie. He wants you dead.”

“He claims he did it to buy us time,” I said. “He said my father has assets here. And he mentioned Mom.”

Madison shook her head, her eyes wide.

“Mom doesn’t know anything,” Madison said. “She just stays in her room. She’s terrified of him.”

“Or she’s the perfect cover,” I muttered.

I walked over to the bank of security monitors on the wall.

The screens showed different angles of the estate.

The main driveway was empty, glistening with rain under the high lampposts.

The rose garden was dark.

But on the monitor showing the rear entrance of the house, a shadow moved.

I leaned closer to the screen.