The Flare

Martin moved when Adam's hands shook.

Roslyn moved faster.

She tackled Adam sideways as the flare gun fired. The flare shot into the boathouse roof and burst red over the lake. Martin ducked, slipped on the dock, and caught himself with one hand on the motorboat rail.

Elise ran.

Theo shouted behind her. Roslyn shouted too. Elise heard neither as language. Martin was reaching for the boat throttle, and the binder was burning in Theo's hands, and every file Vivian left would mean less if Martin reached the airstrip.

She jumped onto the boat as it pulled away.

Martin stared at her with real hatred. "You are your mother's worst trait with better shoes."

"I am my mother's unpaid bill."

He swung at her. She hit the seat, shoulder flaring. The boat scraped the dock. Theo leaped from the edge and landed badly near the bow.

"This is a terrible pattern," he groaned.

Martin kicked him. Elise grabbed the emergency kill cord and yanked.

The motor died.

The boat drifted six feet from the dock. Close enough to see everyone. Far enough for Martin to pull a small knife from his coat.

"You think a court will give you HartLine?" he asked. "After this? After your mother used Ruby, hid June, and built the first settlement scheme?"

"I do not want HartLine clean," Elise said. "I want it open."

He laughed. "Victims do not want truth. They want checks."

"Then give them both."

Roslyn aimed from the dock. "Drop the knife."

Martin held it toward Elise's throat.

Behind Roslyn, June raised her phone again. Claire held her from behind, no longer stopping her, only holding.

Martin saw the phone and lost one second to rage.

Theo used it. He slammed the boat hook into Martin's wrist. The knife fell into the lake.

Roslyn and a deputy pulled the boat in.

Martin was cuffed against the rail while the red flare burned above him like a public signature.

Then Theo looked at the dock and said, "Where is the binder?"