James smiles. “Oh, is that the story your sister told you?”

There is a look of growing horror on Brooke’s face as she begins to put it together. Oh, no. Her sister murdered Paige.

“Brooke, don’t say another word,” Hannah snaps. “I did what I had to do. To protect you.”

“But…I d-didn’t ask you to do that!” Brooke stammers, still trying to process everything. “This is bad, Hannah. Dad’s going to be so angry!”

“Ladies, ladies…I don’t care who did what. What happens on the island can stay on the island…if we can successfully renegotiate our deal.”

“What do you mean, renegotiate?” Hannah says.

“The heat on this case has intensified. I’m sure you understand, it’s going to take a lot more money to keep this under wraps. I know you both have stellar credit lines, so it’ll only be a matter of discussing payment.”

“We’re not paying you more money,” Hannah says. “That’s unfair!”

James sighs, then points the Glock at Brooke with a two-hand grip, elbows bent, feet shoulder-width apart, just as he was taught in the police academy. This is called the Weaver stance, and it allows you to fire repeatedly and accurately at multiple targets without the muzzle flying all over the place.

“Guess I’m going to be a hero, then.”

Chapter 34

THE STINGRAYS

They were all expecting the gun to make an appearance, mostly as a way to frighten the twins.

But none of them really expected him to actually use it.

The four of them, however, scramble from the surveillance locations the moment James pulls the weapon from his jacket pocket. A few seconds later, his body language is practically screaming, I’m pulling the trigger.

Kate is the first one to make it within range. There’s a loud crack and pop and then Nigel James’s body jerks and twists like a marionette caught up in the wake of a jet engine. Kate holds the Taser steady until the Glock tumbles out of his hands and the cop collapses completely, by which point Otto is on top of him. Jana and Theo run onto the beach, Tasers in hand.

But then a voice surprises them: “You’re all dead.”

They all look over at Hannah, who has picked up the Glock in the momentary confusion. And she is pointing it at Otto.

“I remember you. You were that fake security guard back at school. And you!” Now she points the weapon at Jana. “You’re the fake FBI agent! You people have been after us this whole time.”

“Well, technically, only since this morning,” Theo offers.

“ALL OF YOU SHUT UP!” Brooke screams. She can’t handle it anymore.

“I don’t care who any of you are,” Hannah says with a creepy calm in her voice. “But I’m not going to let you ruin our lives.”

“Pretty sure you did that all by yourselves when you murdered Paige Ryerson and paid off a local cop to cover it up,” Theo says.

Hannah might be trying to smile, but instead it comes across like the leer of someone who’s just realized she’s lost her mind.