Chapter 10 - What Claire Recorded.
Ethan forced himself to remain outside the window.
Rain slid down the rotting boards and soaked through his suit while he counted each of Lily's breaths through the gap.
He had never felt so close to her and so completely unable to reach her.
Every instinct screamed at him to break through the door and take Lily back.
But Claire kept Victor talking.
“You promised me Hannah's death would look like an accident.”
Victor's eyes narrowed.
“It did.”
“And you promised Ethan would never know I helped you get into the garage.”
Ethan felt the ground shift beneath him.
Claire had helped.
Whatever redemption she was attempting now could not erase that sentence.
Inside the boathouse, Victor stepped closer to her.
“You opened a door.”
“You cut the brake line.”
Victor's voice became cold.
“You are in no position to grow a conscience.”
Lily stared at Claire with horror.
Claire saw it and broke.
“I didn't know he was going to kill your mother.”
Victor laughed softly.
“You knew enough to take my money.”
Claire looked at Lily.
“I thought he was frightening Hannah into signing the trust amendment.”
Ethan wanted to burst through the wall.
Mercer touched his shoulder and pointed toward the rear entrance.
Two officers were moving into position.
Victor continued.
“Hannah discovered the offshore accounts and decided she was suddenly a hero.”
Claire whispered, “She was your friend too.”
“She was an obstacle.”
Victor lifted the gun toward Lily.
“And now her daughter is becoming one.”
Ethan moved.
He kicked the side door open just as Mercer entered from the rear.
“Drop the gun!”
Victor grabbed Lily by the shoulder and pulled her against him.
Claire threw herself toward the phone.
Victor fired.
The bullet struck the floor inches from her hand.
Lily screamed.
Ethan stopped.
Victor pressed the pistol against the side of Lily's head.
“The key.”
Ethan took it from his pocket.
“Let her go.”
“Put it on the floor.”
Mercer aimed at Victor but had no clear shot.
Ethan crouched and placed the brass key on the boards.
Victor kicked it toward himself.
Claire lay motionless near the phone.
For one horrible second Ethan thought she had been shot.
Then her fingers moved.
She pushed the phone beneath a cabinet.
Victor did not notice.
He dragged Lily toward the dock door.
“Tell the police to back away.”
Mercer lowered his weapon slightly.
Victor reached the open dock.
A small motorboat waited beneath the roof.
Ethan realized someone had prepared it in advance.
Victor had always planned a second escape route.
Lily suddenly bit his hand.
Victor shouted and loosened his grip.
Ethan lunged.
The gun fired again.
The bullet shattered a lantern above them.
Darkness swallowed the boathouse.
There was a splash.
Then another.
Ethan hit the dock on his knees and reached into black water.
His hand caught a child's sleeve.
He pulled Lily upward.
She gasped and wrapped herself around him.
Across the dock, the motorboat engine roared to life.
Victor was escaping onto the lake.
Claire crawled toward the hidden smartphone.
“Let him go.”
Ethan stared at her.
She held up the phone.
“We have his confession.”
May you like
Then the screen went black.
The recording had not saved.
