“Why?”

“Keep the kids there tonight.”

For the first time that entire day, Brandon sounded like her husband again.

Not the dismissive man who had left her harvesting corn.

Not the man who had taken money from their son.

Not the man connected to documents created in her name.

He sounded genuinely terrified.

“Brandon,” Rachel said carefully, “what have you gotten involved in?”

A knock came through his side of the call.

Three firm knocks.

Brandon suddenly went quiet.

Rachel heard him whisper:

“Oh God.”

Then came another voice.

A man.

Very close.

“Brandon. Open the door.”

Rachel stood up.

“Who is that?”

“Rachel, listen to me.”

The knocking came again.

“Brandon.”

“Take Lucas and Chloe inside.”

A chill ran through her.

“What?”

“Right now.”

“Why?”

“Lock the doors.”

“Brandon, who’s outside your hotel room?”

He didn’t answer her question.

“Do not return to Sacramento.”

“Why?”

The knocking stopped.

Then Rachel heard something even more unsettling.

The hotel door opening.

Brandon said, “Wait—”

A man spoke in a calm voice.

“You should’ve told her before she froze the accounts.”

Rachel felt the room shift beneath her.

The man knew about the cards.

“Who are you?” Rachel demanded.

For several seconds, no one answered.

Then the stranger gave a quiet laugh.

Not cruel.

Almost curious.

“So that’s Rachel.”

Brandon said something too muffled to understand.

The stranger continued.

“Mrs. Carter, your husband has created a very costly problem.”

Rachel tightened her grip on the phone.

“Who is this?”

“You’ll know soon enough.”

“Are you warning my family?”

“No.”

A pause followed.

“I’m telling you that your husband misled the wrong people.”

The call disconnected.

Rachel immediately called Brandon again.

No answer.

Again.

Nothing.

Then she called Paige.

Straight to voicemail.

Then Brenda.

Nothing.