Chapter 11 - The Boathouse
Daniel lowered the ledger slowly.
"Let Lily go."
Celeste smiled. "You don't negotiate very well."
Nora stood between Celeste and the crib. "You said no one else had to get hurt."
"And you believed me?"
Nora looked devastated.
Daniel saw it then. Nora was not innocent, but she was not fully on Celeste's side either. She had spent her whole life starving for a mother's approval and had mistaken manipulation for love.
"She used you," Daniel said.
Celeste's gun shifted toward him. "Don't."
Daniel ignored her. "She hid you for twenty-seven years. Then when she needed someone disposable, suddenly you became family."
"Shut up!" Celeste snapped.
Nora started crying. "Is that true?"
"Nora, take the ledger."
"Answer me."
Celeste's face hardened. "This is not the time for your emotional needs."
That did it.
Nora laughed once, painfully. "My emotional needs? I'm your daughter."
"And Daniel is my son. Look how useful that turned out."
Daniel moved closer to the crib.
Celeste noticed.
"One more step and I fire."
Outside, thunder rolled over the lake.
Daniel needed Torres to move, but he couldn't see the police through the rain.
Nora suddenly kicked the ledger across the floor toward the water door.
Celeste turned her head.
Daniel charged.
The gun went off.
Wood exploded beside his shoulder.
Nora grabbed Celeste's wrist. They crashed into a table. The gun skidded beneath the crib.
Lily woke screaming.
Daniel scooped her up.
"Daddy's here. Daddy's got you."
Celeste shoved Nora into the wall and dove for the gun.
Torres burst through the door.
"Police! Don't move!"
Celeste froze with one hand under the crib.
For one hopeful second, Daniel thought it was over.
Then flames erupted behind them.
The old curtains had caught fire from the knocked-over lamp.
Celeste grabbed the gun.
May you like
Nora screamed.
And the burning roof began to collapse.
