“Now.”

I looked up at Wade, then down at Vale.

Slowly, I raised my hands and stood up.

Vale lay on the floor, coughing and clutching his throat.

“He’s crazy, Thomas!” Vale wheezed.

“He tried to kill me!”

“Keep your hands where I can see them, Daniel,” Wade said, stepping into the room.

He looked at the shattered glass, then at the gun near the refrigerator.

“You’re under arrest for attempted murder,” Wade said.

“And the theft of family property.”

“He killed Emily, Wade,” I said, keeping my voice calm.

“And you covered it up.”

“You’re talking nonsense,” Wade said.

“You’ve lost your mind since she died.”

He reached into his pocket for his handcuffs.

As he did, his phone vibrated against his hip.

He paused, frown lines deep on his forehead.

He pulled the phone out with his left hand, keeping his gun trained on me with his right.

He glanced at the screen.

His expression changed from anger to confusion, then to pure dread.

He looked from the phone to me, his eyes widening.

“What is this?” he whispered.