Ethan's anger faltered, but did not disappear.

"So you testified that I stole the money."

"I thought prison would keep you alive. I thought hating me would keep you away from Lily."

"You let her believe I abandoned her."

"I told her you loved her every night."

"And every morning you obeyed the man who threatened her."

Nora wiped her eyes. "Yes. That is the part I cannot forgive either."

Ethan inserted the flash drive into his laptop. One video file opened: grainy footage from Adrian's dashboard camera. Adrian argued with someone outside the car.

Marcus's voice came through the speakers. "Give me Julian's copy."

Adrian answered, "You won't touch Ethan or my sister."

A second man stepped into frame, but his face remained outside the camera's view. A hand wearing a square black signet ring reached beneath the dashboard.

Nora whispered, "Uncle Charles wears that ring."

The station lights went out.

"Close the laptop," Ethan said.

Footsteps rushed from the stairwell. A bottle shattered against the locker, and flames climbed the metal doors.

Nora grabbed the ledger. "This way!"

They ran through the service corridor as smoke filled the platform. Behind them, someone shouted into a phone.

Outside, Ethan's mobile rang. Evelyn's name flashed on the screen.

"Where is Lily?" Evelyn demanded.

"With you."

"No. Marcus said you sent a driver for her. Nora's signature was on the release form."

Nora snatched the phone. "I signed nothing."

A photograph arrived while she spoke. Lily sat in the back of a dark car, clutching Maple. Marcus's message appeared beneath it.

Bring the ledger to the old textile mill before dawn, or the next photograph will be taken at the bottom of the river.

Ethan looked at Nora.

"Now," she said, gripping the scorched ledger, "we stop obeying him."

Chapter 3 - The Price of One Life

The old Harrow textile mill stood beside the river like a burned-out cathedral. Ethan and Nora found Evelyn waiting at the locked gate with a pistol in one hand.

"You called her?" Ethan asked.

Nora shook her head.

Evelyn lifted her chin. "Marcus called me. He wants all three of us frightened enough to make mistakes."

"You brought a gun."

"I am eighty-one, not helpless."

Ethan held out Julian's letter. "He knew Marcus killed Adrian."

Evelyn read it once, then folded it with trembling fingers.

"I knew your records were forged," she said.

Nora stared at her. "Since when?"

"Six weeks ago. Julian told me before the stroke took his speech."

Ethan stepped closer. "You kept calling me a thief."

"Marcus controlled the foundation accounts, the board, and half the local police through donations. Julian told me to pretend ignorance until he could move the evidence."

"And Lily?"

"I filed for custody because Marcus demanded it. I thought keeping her inside my house would keep her visible."