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farther into her uncle’s rat’s nest for fear of being caught, Elise retreated to her car. She didn’t realize how guilty she felt about poking around her uncle’s house without his knowledge until her cell phone rang, startling her. She jumped and let out a nervous laugh.
    â€œHey, El,” Ross greeted her. “Just wanted to let you know that I got a hold of Jackson, and he’ll be at the vineyard by eight thirty tomorrow morning.”
    â€œOh, goody!”
    Ross snickered. “I can hear the nasty thought behind that sarcastic false joy of yours. And yes, it means another early morning for my sister, the night owl.”
    â€œSadly, I do seem to be the only one in the family who didn’t get the early gene,” Elise said with a shake of her head. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was adopted. But that’s okay. I’ll drag myself out there at the crack of dawn—again.”
    â€œYeah, well try not to be late. We get tired of waiting on you.”
    â€œBite me,” she replied good-naturedly and then grew serious. “Ross … there is something I need to talk to you and Mom about, something important you should see. But I think it would be better to do it privately tomorrow morning— without Jackson present.”
    â€œThat’s certainly sounds cryptic. What is it?”
    â€œI don’t want to discuss it over the phone.”
    â€œWhat’s going on, Elise? Where are you?”
    She almost didn’t tell him but in the end decided to fess up. “I’m at Uncle Edmond’s house,” she said and then had to pull the phone away from her ear when Ross began to yell.
    â€œWhat the hell are you doing out there? Have you lost your damn mind?”
    â€œI know, it was stupid, but I just wanted to hear his side of the story, you know? Don’t blow a gasket; he’s not even here, so it’s not a big deal.”
    She heard his deep sigh on the other end. “Get out of there before he comes back and catches you hanging around. It’s after four. Go home, El, and let it go. You have to accept the fact that Uncle Edmond is a lost cause. You can’t save everyone.”
    After she hung up, Elise drove back to her apartment with a heavy heart. She knew Ross was probably right, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was coming. And when bad things happened, you counted on family to see you through.
    Unfortunately, her uncle was about to lose what was left of his.

    As she drove out to the vineyard the following morning in the still-oppressive heat, Elise tried to make some kind of sense of the thoughts running through her mind. Sadly, she wasn’t having much luck. Stuart had called last night and brought up the job offer yet again. Their conversation had felt drawn out and tense, and she hadn’t even mentioned her uncle’s latest antics.
    Being the only one who didn’t live on the vineyard, she was again the last to arrive. Even Jackson was already there when she parked in front of the main house, so she didn’t have time to talk to Ross or her mother. Her visit to Pam’s restaurant and the news about finding the markers and the paystubs would have to wait until later.
    Grabbing a diet soda from the fridge, Elise sat down at the table as Jackson began to explain the process for filing the restraining order.
    â€œOnce this order is signed and in place, Edmond won’t be allowed on Beckett property,” he told them. “If he shows up out here, you give us a call. We’ll come out and take him away. It’s as simple as that.”
    â€œNothing is that simple, Jax,” Ross said with a frown. “And I still say this isn’t enough. I can guarantee this won’t stop his harassment.”
    â€œIt might not stop the harassment, Ross, but if he disregards this order, he faces a jail cell. That will be his choice.”
    â€œJackson is right,