He stared at the ceiling, tears streaking his bruised face, and fumbled for his phone.

“Richard — Uncle Richard, pick up. Claire knows. She knows about Horizon Builders. She took the ledger. You have to help me fix this.”

He thought he was calling for reinforcements. He had no idea he’d just armed the bomb I’d planted under both their lives.

Chapter 5 — The Ambush

At noon the next day, with Attorney Harrison beside me, I stepped into the childhood home.

It wasn’t a family gathering. It was a desperate ambush.

Uncle Richard stood by the brick fireplace, his face flushed a dangerous purple.