The first thing Mara Hawthorne noticed after she struck the marble landing was the silence.

By 7:00 PM, a storm had settled over the estate. Rain slammed against the tall stained-glass windows of the grand entrance hall, and thunder rumbled in the distance.

Daniel had texted again: Traffic is terrible on the highway. Flooding near the bridge. Might be delayed another thirty minutes.

Mara was in the kitchen, pouring herself a glass of water, when Evelyn walked in.

Evelyn looked pale, her aristocratic composure visibly frayed.

"Celeste told me what you said to her," Evelyn said, her voice sharp as glass.

Mara didn't look up from the sink. "Celeste told you a lie, most likely."

"She said you threatened to go to the authorities with fabricated records."

Mara turned around, holding her glass of water. "They aren't fabricated, Evelyn. Your daughter has been stealing from the foundation for over a year. And you signed the authorization forms."

Evelyn's hand tightened around her gold watch. "You don't understand how this family operates. My husband built this estate! We have obligations! Celeste needed those funds for... for private matters."

"Private matters like gambling debts in Atlantic City?" Mara asked, guessing based on the names of the offshore investment accounts she had audited.

Evelyn flinched. The reaction gave Mara her answer.

"It doesn't matter what they were for!" Evelyn raised her voice, losing her cool completely. "You are an outsider! You had no right to go snooping through our personal affairs!"

"I am Daniel's wife!" Mara shouted back, finally letting her anger explode. "I am carrying your grandson! And I will not let my husband be dragged down into federal prison because you and your daughter can't stop stealing!"

"Daniel will do as he is told!" Evelyn spat. "He is a Hawthorne!"

"He is a human being!" Mara yelled. "And he is going to find out everything tonight!"

Mara pushed past Evelyn, walking out of the kitchen and heading toward the main hall.

She needed to get her coat. She was going to wait for Daniel at the gatehouse, outside of this toxic, suffocating house.

"Mara! Come back here!" Evelyn called, following her into the hall.

At the top of the grand staircase stood Celeste.

She had heard the shouting from upstairs. She stepped out onto the landing, her face pale with fury, her eyes fixed on Mara coming down the corridor toward the stairs.

"Where do you think you're going?" Celeste demanded, stepping to the top of the stairwell, blocking the descent.

"Out," Mara said, stopping three feet away from the top step. "I'm meeting Daniel at the gate."

"You aren't leaving this house until we settle this," Celeste said, her voice trembling with unhinged rage.

"Get out of my way, Celeste."

"Or what?" Celeste took a step closer. "What are you going to do, Mara? Run to your detective friend?"

Mara froze.

Detective friend.

Celeste knew.

Celeste had hired someone to follow her. She knew about the meeting at the diner.

Mara felt a cold spike of pure terror shoot down her spine.

"You thought you were being clever, didn't you?" Celeste sneered, stepping closer until she was inches away from Mara. "Meeting police detectives in greasy diners? Trying to ruin my life?"

"Celeste, step back," Mara warned, her voice dropping into a desperate whisper. She reached into her cardigan pocket, pressing the side button of her phone twice to initiate the emergency shortcut to Detective Moreno.

"I'm not letting you destroy this family!" Celeste screamed.

Evelyn reached the top of the stairs behind them. "Celeste, stop!"

"No, Mother! She's going to ruin us!"

Celeste lunged forward.

Her hands slammed violently into Mara's chest.

Mara lost her footing on the slick wooden step.