Kane wondered if he’d reloaded. The original bullets were still in his pocket, but there would have been more at the cabin. If so, would he shoot? It depended on how much the boy had figured out. With both parents fixated on Connor, Kane moved past Anne until he was three steps away from the bottom.

“Put the fucking gun down, Connor,” Thomas yelled. “You’re out of your mind.”

“Connor,” Anne said. “Do what he says. This isn’t helping. Put the gun down.”

“You killed them,” Connor said.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Thomas said.

“Don’t I?”

Kane was inches away from them now. The wave was still building monumentally. No way he could disarm Thomas and secure the girl at the same time. It was going to be a question of risking a shot and praying it went wide. But unless Kane himself was secure, that would be for nothing. He saw an old mooring line wrapped around the rails at the side and began to unwind it.

“Connor,” Anne screamed. “Please.”

The wave began to curl. Now Anne saw it too, and she swore. Thomas glanced over his shoulder, then turned back to them. He’d frozen. Kane twisted the rope around his arm, reached out to Carina.

“I’ve got her. Come on, Carina. Step toward me quickly.”

For a split second it looked like the girl might reach out, but then she turned and clung to her father.

It hit them like an explosion. Kane felt his feet swept from under him. The water drowned the steps, and when it drew back, Thomas and Carina were gone. Then two heads broke the surface of the sea, a few meters out: Carina flailing, borne up by the life jacket; Thomas fighting against the water.

Kane kicked his shoes off and dived in. Thomas had grabbed his daughter and was trying to push her back toward the steps, but struggling to keep his own head above the surface. Kane took hold of the girl as her father sank back down. He clawed backwards through the water with Carina’s limp body before the next wave hit. Anne had secured herself with the rope and reached for her, catching the girl’s arm and dragging her up onto the steps. Connor appeared beside her and helped lift his sister out, then offered a hand to Kane. But another wave was growing, sucking the sea back and Thomas with it.

“Get her up to the top,” Kane said. “Away from the edge.” Kane looked for Thomas. He saw a hand and launched himself toward it.