I squeezed his hand, tucked the micro-SD card deep into the inner lining of my jacket pocket, and carefully placed the black notebook back on the glass table, making sure it sat in the exact position Kelly had left it. I picked up my purse, took a deep, steadying breath, and turned around just as Kelly walked back into the living room, her expression as unreadable and cold as ever.

“Leaving so soon, Mrs. Hunter?” Kelly asked, her eyes immediately flicking to the bottle of sleeping pills still sitting unopened on the table. “I thought you were scheduled to administer his evening care.”

I looked her dead in the eye, channeling every ounce of composure I possessed. “I need to step out to get some fresh air. Make sure you log my exact departure time in your notebook.”

Without waiting for her response, I walked briskly past her and stepped out into the cool desert air of the Scottsdale night. As I started my car and pulled out of the long, gated driveway, I looked back at the imposing family estate in my rearview mirror. The trap had been set for me, but for the first time since this nightmare began, the hunters had no idea that the balance of power had completely shifted.