Naomi sank onto the bottom stair, her head in her hands.

A memory returned to me with painful clarity. A week earlier, I’d been unable to find my license, and Landen had laughed and called me absentminded. Naomi — who’d been at our house for what Landen claimed was a business meeting — had even helped me search.

I looked at them both, realizing how long this had been planned.

The deputy began separating everyone in the room while Russell documented the new materials. No one raised their voice now except Landen. “Elisa, stop this right now,” he said, stepping toward me.

I turned toward him, my expression cold. “Stop what, Landen?”

“Tell them there’s been a huge misunderstanding.”