Ruth was waiting by the front door, holding our coats.

She had a woolen scarf wrapped tightly around her neck.

“Did you hear?” she asked quietly.

“I talked to Marcus,” I said.

“He knows.”

Ruth’s hands trembled slightly as she handed me my keys.

“They won’t let this go, Daniel,” she whispered.

“Neither will I,” I said.

I opened the heavy front door.

The cold air hit us immediately.

A gray drizzle was falling over the lawns of the estate.

We walked down the stone steps to the SUV.

I buckled the boys into their car seats in the back.

They sat quietly, looking out the rain-streaked windows.

I got into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

The wipers scraped against the windshield.

Before I shifted into drive, I dialed Arthur Pendelton’s number.

He answered on the second ring.

“Daniel,” Arthur said, his voice smooth.

“I assume Marcus called you.”

“He did,” I said.

“And you gave him the confidential files.”

“I have a duty to the corporate entity, Daniel,” Arthur said.

“You are making a mistake that will cost you hundreds of millions.”