Under the cover of her chaos, I slipped my uninjured hand beneath my pillow and pressed record on the small digital audio device I kept hidden there.

“You ungrateful, lying little parasite!” Evelyn snapped, pushing past her pinned son to glare down at me with pure venom. “After everything we did to keep your pathetic breakdown private and protect your reputation!

This is how you repay us?”

Dad glanced over his shoulder toward the bed, his eyes meeting mine. I gave him the smallest, almost imperceptible nod.

Keep them talking. That vile sentence mattered. Every threat she spewed was gold.

The local police arrived within seven minutes, lights flashing in the driveway. The speed of their response was a testament to whatever Dad had said on the phone.