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Mom slowly lowered herself into a chair.

“No.”

“I’m sorry.”

“You told us Elias destroyed Grandpa’s boatyard. You said he threatened all of you.”

“He did.”

“And Dad’s own brother worked for him?” Elanore has always called James' dad; she still called him that after his death.

“For years.”

Mom’s pain turned to anger.

“Why?”

“Money at first. Later, fear.”

“That doesn’t excuse it.”

“No,” Thomas said. “It doesn’t.”

Nathan remained beside Mom, but he didn’t touch her. He gave her the choice of reaching for him.

A moment later, she did.

Her hand closed around his.

I looked down at the photograph again.

Grandpa’s ring lay beside the Coast Guard evidence marker. The compass face was scratched and darkened, but the five small stars were still visible.

“If Jonathan betrayed Grandpa, why was he wearing the ring?”

“I don’t know.”

I studied Thomas.

“You’re lying.”

Storm gave me a warning look.

“Calle.”

“He is.”

Thomas didn’t become angry.

That almost made it worse.

“I know why James might have given it to him,” he admitted. “I don’t know whether that’s what happened.”

“Then tell us what you know.”

The female Coast Guard officer approached.

“Excuse me.”