“All right,” I said. “I accept that you’re better at this than I realized.”

Tvist shook his head, amused. “It’s my job, Cal. Have some faith.”

I saw them at once. Vee welcomed me with smiles and with hugs. Elsa embraced me warmly, then took a half step back, let her hands rest easily on my shoulders. I looked about me. Tvist did have the island locked down. His men and women were everywhere. And there was Bror on the far edge of the group, smiling at me across the clearing. I looked away. I would not play his games.

“We can leave at any time, Vee,” I said.

“I know,” said Vee. “All good.”

Our brave little daughter, growing up fast. My best beloved Vee. Sleek and streamlined. A world away from the stick-thin child she was a few short months ago, with her knotted fists and her dark suspicious eyes.

Tvist placed himself close to Bror. These two men, each using me to get to the other. Though I understood Tvist’s reasons now. He smiled. I nodded, glad of his presence. For as long as we were on the island we were safe.

“So we’re ready?” said Elsa.

There was a warmth in my wife’s voice I had not expected. I searched her face, looking for anger, or bitterness, but there was no edge to her words. Instead there was a glow in her ice-blue eyes that I had thought was gone, an intimacy in her gaze that I thought had been lost to me. So gentle she looked, so kind and so strong.

“Viktoria Curtis,” said John Andersen.

“What?” said Vee.

The world grew quiet. John Andersen was staring very intently at Vee. The judges and the police were watching; the victims’ families; the survivors; Bror too. Only Paul Andersen was facing away.

“About your sister,” said John Andersen.

Paul Andersen turned toward us too, so close that I could smell the chewing tobacco on his breath. Like candy, with a dark, cancerous edge. I felt the fear in my Vee, felt her struggle as the men tried to hold her with their gaze. I reached out to her with my free arm, tried to turn her toward me. But Vee would not be turned.

“Look down, love,” I said.

“I won’t,” said Vee.

From across the clearing I felt the smile curling across Bror’s lips. I saw the cruelty in him now, though he was a cleverer man than the brothers, better at disguising his true self.

“Your sister sends warm wishes,” said Paul Andersen, enjoying the moment.

“We hope one day you will join us,” said John.

“My sister is dead to me,” said Vee.

Elsa stepped in front of our daughter, eyes blazing, facing the men. Any trace of gentleness was gone from her. She would strike them down if she could, I thought to myself.