The Locked Audio

Miles's audio drive held thirty-seven files.

Brooke insisted they listen in order. Nora wanted the newest, the ugliest, the one that would explain why a dead husband could still hurt so efficiently. Ruiz sided with Brooke because evidence liked sequence even when people did not.

They met in the dental office after closing. The waiting room lights made everyone look guilty.

File one was a call between Miles and Kells from three years earlier.

Kells sounded younger, or maybe less tired. "Once this goes live, you are out. Dead means dead in every system I can reach."

Miles answered, "Lila signs, payout routes, you watch the handlers."

"And Judith?"

"She thinks I'm cleaning her mess before auditors find it."

Nora shut her eyes. Even then, Miles had known his mother was dirty.

File seven changed the room.

A patient named Ruth Emory cried on the phone while Miles asked about a care directive. "They said my daughter would get nothing if I fought the transfer," Ruth said. "The nice woman with the white flowers said families have to be practical."

Lila pressed both hands to her mouth.

"Ruth died two days later," she whispered.

Ruiz wrote the name.

File fourteen contained Cal Reed.

"Your mother's board is nervous," Cal said.

Miles laughed without humor. "My mother does not have nerves. She has revenue streams."

"Then stop threatening them."

"Tell Judith if she touches Nora or Sophie, I publish everything."

The recording ended there.

Nora stared at the laptop. "He was protecting us before I knew there was a threat."

Lila looked away.

"What?" Nora asked.

Lila's eyes were wet. "He also chose you because Judith would believe a real wife made him controllable."

The sentence opened under Nora like a trapdoor.

"He married me as cover?"

"No," Lila said quickly. "But he used what was real."