“He should be.”

Claire pressed the doorbell again. This time the sound carried through the house long enough to make Lauren flinch. Ethan walked toward the entrance but stopped before touching the lock.

“What do you want?” he called through the door.

Claire gave a quiet laugh. “You already know what I want.”

“That was years ago.”

“Money doesn’t become yours just because enough time passes.”

Lauren turned toward him. “What money?” He ignored her.

Claire set a leather briefcase on the porch and took out a second envelope. “This is a preservation notice,” she said. “It means you’re legally required to protect every document, message, recording, account statement, and device connected to the Mercer redevelopment fund.”

Ethan went paler. “You have no proof.”

Claire looked into the porch camera. “Daniel has the proof.”

Behind Ethan, Lauren dropped the stack of papers. Several scattered across the floor. One landed faceup near the lamp — a list of transfers from an account registered under her name.

She stared at it. “What is the Mercer redevelopment fund?”