“You think this place is worth killing for?” I said. The injustice of what Norton had done made my trigger finger itch. “Was it a kitchen knife or a tool from the shed? Was he dead before his body hit the water, or did he writhe in pain while he drowned? Did you watch him sink to the bottom of the river? Did you?”

Norton clutched his head tighter and released a primal moan.

“I thought you were working alone. When I realized what you’d done—implicating Bloom, the drugs—I was sure you concocted this whole plan. But I don’t think you killed Jasper anymore. No, you left that part to someone else.”

I knew better than anyone, maybe even the Sinclairs, that families don’t always stick together. It was like Flynn said. A blood bond doesn’t guarantee loyalty.

“It’s not too late to save yourself, Philip. I’ll take you back to the station. You can sign a confession. Jade will be safe, I gave her my word.”

Pummeled by wind and rain, Norton slumped against the edge of the canoe and let the water slosh against his knees. He was close to cracking, but not close enough. I was too late.

The storm was loud, and the ambient glow from my flashlight turned the world black and white, all gloss and shimmer, wet grass and mud—but still I felt it. He was here.

Miles Byrd’s rapid breathing preceded him. I didn’t need to see him in the light to know he’d taken a bad fall on his way down. There was a limp in his gait as he stumbled toward us.

“There you are,” Miles said to Norton. “Where’s Jade? It was the right decision, getting her out of there. Flynn’s fucking nuts.” He turned to me. “You were wrong about him, I hope that’s obvious now. Flynn lost it last night, just like he did in there with Ned. Flynn killed Jas and that girl.”

“Stay where you are.” I said it loudly. I needed Jade to hear. Miles was wearing gloves. Where did he get those gloves?

“I came to get my daughter.” Miles squinted against the beam of light and cracked an amiable smile. “Where is she?”

“Neither of you is going anywhere.”

Miles looked at Norton, then back at me. “You can’t mean . . . Philip? Come on. He’s harmless! He’s not the one you’re looking for.”

“You’re right,” I said as I transferred my aim and my weapon found its true target. “You are.”

Miles wasn’t like Norton. He wasn’t afraid. The man eased back his shoulders and faced me head-on. “I’m curious, is that really how you operate? By process of elimination? Your little speech up there, about the others being innocent . . . tell me that isn’t seriously how you solve a crime.”

“Process of elimination is a handy tactic, Miles. It’s what brought me to both of you.”

Miles laughed and wiped the cold night rain from his brow. “Are you kidding me with this? You and your idiot partner, you’re complete amateurs. You don’t know what you’re talking about.” Miles didn’t like where this was going. He couldn’t see his daughter, and despite his bravado that made him nervous.