“If you don’t cooperate, Madeline, things will get much worse for your little shop.”

“And Clara’s medical bills are quite substantial,” he added. “Without her accounts active, I wonder how she will pay for that surgery on her wrist.”

“I have the drive, Julian,” I said, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Beside me, Nora shot me a sharp, warning look.

But I couldn’t stop myself.

“I know about the foundation,” I said. “I know about Alabaster Holdings.”

There was a long, heavy silence on the other end of the line.

The only sound was the static of the connection and the steady wipe of our windshield wipers.

“You always were too smart for your own good, Madeline,” Julian said.

His voice had lost its smooth veneer, turning cold and sharp as glass.

“But a drive is only useful if you can deliver it,” he said.

Behind us, the black SUV accelerated, its engine roaring in the dark street.

The high beams filled our entire car with blinding, white light.

“Nora, gas!” I screamed.

“I’m flooring it!” she yelled.