“Let’s go,” he said, gesturing with the gun. “You lead the way and keep your hands where I can see them.”

With everything at stake and a mad man at her back, Remi stepped out into the night.

53

Brick swiped his forearm over his brow as he stared up at the Grand Hotel. She still stood. Just as proud as ever. Maybe a little smoky, and her kitchens a lot worse for the wear. But she still looked out over Lake Huron like a beacon of welcome.

It had taken hours and all hands on deck to get the blaze under control.

Arson. That was clear. An accelerant had been used to start and spread the flames. But the arsonist had forgotten one thing. That Mackinac Island stood up for its own.

There had been a few injuries. Some smoke inhalation. But like the hotel, they’d all survived the night.

No one messed with the lady on the hill. They’d had more volunteers than they’d known what to do with. The hotel guests had been liveried off to other accommodations. Some inns, some private homes. Restaurants and cafes had sent food and beverages up the hill to keep the crews fueled.

Both ferry lines woke up their crews and used their boats to ship firefighters and equipment from the mainland.

And as the promise of dawn began to kiss the horizon, Brick took his first easy breath. It was a good time to check in at home, he decided. Sinking down into a deck chair, one of the many that some thoughtful volunteer had pulled off the hotel’s porch and arranged in the grass for the crews.

He opened his texts when his phone rang. It was his own home number.

“Uncle Brick?”

“Hadley?”

“Uncle Brick, Aunt Remi’s gone. Her friend Camille, too. A man came.”

Brick launched himself out of the chair. “What happened?” he demanded.

“A man. A man dressed in black. I think Mr. White is dead. He was bleeding really bad. And then the man shot William. I’m with him now. He’s breathing, but he’s hurt bad. Can you bring an ambulance?”

Fuck.

Brick was in a dead sprint now.

It had been a ploy to get him away from Remi, from the house. He’d just left them dangling like bait. He’d abandoned them when they needed him most.

“Brick?” Chief Ford called from where she was conferring with the fire chief.

“Remi,” he said, his voice breaking on the name.

But he kept running down the grassy hill that sloped into town. “Hadley, are you safe?”

“I’m safe but scared. Uncle Brick, he has Aunt Remi and Camille. I think he knocked out Camille. He carried her out, and Aunt Remi looked like she was going to kill him.”

“I’m on my way. Is anyone else there? Is anyone else with you?”

“They’re all asleep. I couldn’t sleep. I wanted to see what Aunt Remi was painting. Sometimes I sneak down and I peek.”