A deputy and Detective Ruiz were waiting in the adjoining room.

Daniel walked inside and saw Emily.

Then he laughed.

“So the servants finally brought you home.”

Emily didn’t react.

“Take your clothes and leave.”

Patricia immediately headed toward the dining room.

“That table belongs to me,” she said. “So does the silverware. The china too. And half this house.”

Emily looked directly at her.

“No. None of it belongs to you.”

Daniel reached inside his coat.

He pulled out a folder and slapped it onto the kitchen counter.

“You signed the loan,” he snapped. “Stop pretending you didn’t.”

The room went silent.

That was exactly what Detective Ruiz had been waiting for.

He stepped into the kitchen.

“Mr. Keller, put the folder down.”

Daniel froze.

His expression changed instantly.

He began insisting that the papers were merely drafts.

Ruiz produced information from the lender.

Timestamped records.

Login information.

And the home-equity application.

Then he asked Daniel one question.

“If this was only a draft, why was the receiving bank account yours?”

Before Daniel could answer, Patricia interrupted.

“It was my idea!”

Daniel turned toward her.

“Mom—”

Patricia continued.

“Emily owed us. We were only taking what should have belonged to Daniel anyway.”

Ruiz looked at her.

“Ma’am, I strongly suggest you stop talking.”