Christopher’s goal was to disappear for a year to make sure no one was looking for him. By then they would be certain that his escape had, indeed, been flawless. The only worry was that their father, facing the rest of his life in jail, might mention to the feds that he believed his son was still alive. Neither Christopher nor Avery believed that their father knew the truth. Still, it was safest for Christopher to take to the sea while their father was prosecuted. There was no telling the extremes he might go to to lessen his sentence. That his own daughter had betrayed him and turned him over to the feds was surely a bitter pill Garth Montgomery would not swallow easily. But it had been part of the long game Avery concocted the moment her father’s postcard arrived in the mail. The final details had come together with Walt’s help. The best way, Walt had told her, to make sure the eyes of the FBI were off the airports, borders, and ports was to divert the agency’s attention. And the apprehension of one of their highest targets was the best way to do it.

In a year, when the coast was clear, the plan was for Christopher to return to Jamaica and start his new life. His job at Hampden Estates distillery would be waiting for him, and there were worse ways to spend time as a free man. Holed up in a cabin in Sister Bay, Wisconsin, working at Connie Clarkson’s sailing camp had been a temporary arrangement that had run far past its course of practicality. Here in Jamaica, Christopher Montgomery—aka Aaron Holland—could truly be free.

Avery stared through the windshield as Walt pulled into the marina’s parking lot. The masts of other sailboats poked into the sky, but she recognized Christopher’s boat immediately. Avery led the way with Walt and Christopher following. She walked down the dock and stopped when she came to the stern of the boat. The name was printed in cursive, and Avery was thrilled with how it turned out. Connie had done a spectacular job.

She felt Christopher’s arm wrap around her shoulder.

“I’ve told you before, but I just want to make sure you know how grateful I am for everything you’ve done,” he said.

“I know.”

“I’ll pay you back somehow.”

“No you won’t.”

He smiled. “Probably not.”

“But when things calm down, you can show me the Caribbean on this gorgeous boat.”

“Deal.”

“You think you’ll be okay?”

He nodded and continued to stare at the boat. “I’ll be fine. Is it hard to get used to a new name?”

“Depends on why you changed it.”

“To find freedom.”