My name is Madeleine Warwick. Legends say that during the Civil War, a black-sheep relative of ours stole from his employer and hid the loot on the family farm. I don’t believe in the stories, but that hasn’t stopped eager treasure hunters from trespassing all over our property and causing the accident that cost my uncle his life. Outraged and heartbroken, I forged a letter, claiming that the treasure never reached our land. This stopped the incursions – but only for a time. Now the treasure hunters are back and, what’s worse, my secret has been discovered.

Professor Gregory Randall knows about the forged letter, but he won’t tell – as long I let him stay on the property to search for the treasure himself. He’s convinced there’s something to find, and I’m starting to think he might be right.

It isn’t easy living in the same house as your blackmailer. Even as we race against our unseen rivals to find the treasure first, someone is determined to stop us: and they’re willing to use violence to do so. I’m running out of ideas, options, and time, and what’s worse, I’m realizing that Randall is the only one I can rely on.

My first defense is the last man I can trust.