Greer Runs

Martin's face on the museum screens made the donors gasp like the scandal had become weather inside the building.

Greer did not look at the screens. He looked at exits.

Roslyn saw it. "Stop him."

Museum security moved too late. Greer stepped into a service hall, and Theo went after him before Elise could make the bad choice first.

"Theo!"

Elise followed. Roslyn swore behind her. The service hall ran behind the catering kitchen and down toward the loading dock. Greer moved fast for a man who donated to stairwell renovations.

Theo caught him at the dock door.

Greer turned with a small pistol in his hand.

"Do not be stupid," Greer said.

Theo stopped. Elise stopped behind him, heart punching her ribs.

Greer looked disappointed. "Vivian underestimated both of you. She thought shame would make you cautious. It made you needy."

Elise said, "Where is Martin?"

"On his way to become a larger problem."

"For you?"

"For everyone. Martin without reputation is just a man with passwords, blackmail, and no reason to be polite."

The loading dock door rolled up behind Greer. A van waited outside with its lights off.

Theo shifted. Greer raised the gun.

Then Adam hit Greer from the side with a catering tray.

It was not graceful. It was loud, metallic, and very Adam. The gun skidded under a prep table. Theo tackled Greer before he recovered. Elise grabbed the weapon.

Roslyn arrived and cuffed Greer with one knee in his back.

Adam leaned against the wall, breathing hard. "Was that brave or stupid?"

"Family style," Elise said.

Greer laughed into the floor. "Martin has Claire's daughter."

Elise's blood went cold.

She ran back to the atrium.

Claire was screaming. Ruby was on the floor. June was gone.

On the big screens, Martin smiled from the moving car.

"Now," he said, "we discuss inheritance."