FRIDAY
7:03 A.M. — CROFT ESTATE
ADRIAN AND SUSANNA'S BEDROOM
"I escaped one prison."
Susanna pushed Adrian's phone against his chest.
"Don't build me a prettier one."
Adrian caught it before it slipped from his hand.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Susanna stood barefoot in the middle of the bedroom, arms folded.
Adrian looked at the security proposal again.
Additional exterior cameras.
Expanded perimeter coverage.
Visitor pre-clearance.
Driver protocols.
Bedroom-level emergency access.
Movement notifications.
He had read the list last night and seen safeguards.
Looking at Susanna now, he understood exactly what she had seen.
Rules.
He set the phone on the dresser.
"All right."
Susanna blinked.
That clearly wasn't the response she'd expected.
"All right?"
"Yes."
"You're not going to explain why every line is necessary?"
"No."
"Defend the cameras?"
"No."
"Tell me I'm overreacting?"
"Absolutely not."
Her suspicion increased.
Adrian sighed.
