I heard them planning my death through the bedroom wall

Victor frowned.

"What did you say?"

Rain streamed down Mara's face as she nodded toward the old stone well.

The tiny red light blinked again.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Elise turned sharply.

"What is that?"

Mara smiled for the first time that night.

"A camera."

The color drained from Victor's face.

Impossible.

The orchard belonged to him now.

Or so he thought.

Mara slowly straightened her shoulders.

"The day after I heard you planning my murder, I called my attorney."

Victor's jaw tightened.

"You heard us?"

"Every word."

Elise stumbled backward.

Mara continued.

"I also called a private security company, my accountant, and the state police."

The blinking light suddenly seemed much brighter.

Victor looked around the orchard.

For the first time, he noticed additional shadows.

Small black boxes attached to trees.

Motion sensors.

Hidden cameras.

Microphones.

The entire orchard had become a trap.

For him.

"You set us up," Elise whispered.

"No," Mara replied calmly.

"You set yourselves up."

Then headlights appeared beyond the tree line.

Blue and red lights flashed through the rain.

Dozens of them.

Victor spun toward the road.

Too late.

Police vehicles poured into the orchard from every direction.

The game was over.