“What about the board?” I asked.

“They will receive the electronic filing notice immediately,” Arthur said.

“It will stop their press release in its tracks.”

“They cannot call her an unauthorized intruder if she is the court-appointed guardian.”

“And the media?” Claire asked.

“We go downstairs,” I said, looking at her.

“We show them we are not hiding.”

Claire swallowed hard and nodded.

“I am ready,” she said.

She slid her legs out of the bed.

Her hospital gown was thin, but she stood tall.

I reached into the closet and pulled out her coat.

I helped her slide her arms into the sleeves.

Just as she zipped it up, my phone lit up in my hand.

It was an incoming call from Marcus.

The screen flashed his name in the dim room.

I stared at the vibrating phone, my finger hovering over the screen.

I slid my thumb across the screen.

I pressed the phone to my ear.

“Marcus,” I said.

“Daniel, where are you?” his voice was tight and strained.

“I am at the hospital with Claire,” I said.