Daniel felt Emma’s sharp intake of breath. Making peace with what happened to Liz would be the work of a lifetime. The detachment in Margaux’s words was troubling.
“What was your plan here?” Chad asked. “Before I showed up to help you get away.”
“I had that worked out already.” Margaux sniffed. “I moved the boat. I drugged the water for Emma. When the sheriff dropped his guard to care for her, I was going to knock him unconscious with the shovel, her too, and then throw them in the lake, weighed down with rocks. Another accident.”
Her plan was feeble, ill-advised. Unless she’d packed more in her backpack than either he or the others had noticed. But considering how much about her had been undetected, that wasn’t a stretch.
“You’re here now,” Margaux said. “You can take the lead.”
“Okay. I will,” Chad said, turning to nod at Philip.
Philip crossed the room and apprehended Margaux, twisting her arms behind her back until she screamed, securing her with zip ties.
The door slammed against the wall, shaking the entire structure.
Deputy Wells strode in, gun drawn with another man holding a firearm. Behind them, Daniel spotted the Thomases.
“Hands up, hands up,” the other man said.
Philip and Chad raised their hands over their heads, palms out.
Deputy Wells approached Chad and slapped cuffs on him.
“You’re good Philip,” the other man said. “Cut those two loose. Sheriff? I’m Agent Reynolds. We spoke on the phone?”
Daniel exhaled a sigh.
Philip cut the bindings with the knife.
Daniel rolled his aching shoulders and circled his wrists. “Glad you showed up. Please, we need water.” He turned to catch Emma in his arms as she wobbled upon standing.
Agent Reynolds produced a fresh bottle. “Sorry to keep you in the dark about my partner. I made contact with Mr. Simmon’s team but didn’t hear any word from them when I called back. We had someone closely positioned who reached out to us independently.”
“Would Chad have killed us? Was that why he came here?” Daniel asked Philip.
Philip shrugged. “I wouldn’t have let you two die. As soon as we left, tracking down the wife he couldn’t control, I contacted authorities.”
Emma shook. Shock was setting in.
Daniel didn’t blame her. His blood chilled, too, at the matter-of-fact delivery about their potential end. He rubbed Emma’s upper back.
“Oh my goodness.” Mrs. T’s voice rose above the din. “Danny? Emma? Are you two alright?”
Daniel dropped his hold on Emma then, stepping away as Mr. and Mrs. T approached.
Mrs. T sobbed as she gripped Daniel’s arm with a fierce, primal strength.
“We’re okay, Mrs. T. We’re alive,” he added.
“We finally have the truth,” Emma murmured.
Her soft voice cut him all over again.
“Owen never believed for a second that Liz’s tragedy was an accident,” Mr. T said. “He became obsessed with finding answers. I suppose he did in the end. But now…”
“You’re left trying to make sense of it all?” Emma asked, her voice soft.
Mr. T nodded. Mrs. T sniffed.
