SHE WAS ATTACKED WITH A GOLF CLUB—THEN ONE RED BUTTON EXPOSED A DEADLY SECRET THEY'D KILL TO HIDE!

"Whoever's behind me," Claire said, "lower the gun. My daughter is inside."

A black car rolled through the gate. Margaret stepped out, still in her green suit, a dark coat thrown over her shoulders. Beside her walked a gray-haired man carrying a rifle with a laser sight.

"Reed works for me," Margaret said.

Pike smiled. "That's adorable. You brought your retirement plan."

"Bring my granddaughter out," Margaret ordered.

"First the card."

Claire held up the tiny piece of plastic. "First Ellie. If she's hurt, you'll never find out what Ruth copied."

Pike touched the radio at his collar. A metal door opened in the warehouse behind him. A guard led Ellie into the floodlight by one arm.

Her hair was tangled, her cheeks blotchy. She wore the same blue sweater she'd worn to school. When she saw Claire, she tried to run, but the guard held tight.

"Mom!"

Claire nearly crossed the distance in a single step. Pike raised one finger.

"Careful."

"She needs her medicine."

He tossed the inhaler onto the wet concrete halfway between them. Claire stooped to pick it up, never taking her eyes off Ellie. She pressed the canister once. A cool mist appeared. It wasn't empty.

"Please," Ellie cried. "I want to go home."

"You will, sweetheart. I'm right here."

Margaret started forward. Ellie shrank from her, and the older woman's face crumpled. That small movement hurt her more than Claire's accusations ever had.

"I didn't know he'd scare you like this," Margaret told the child.

"You told him to take me," Ellie answered.

Nobody spoke.

Claire looked from Margaret to Pike. "My daughter heard you. You're finished."

Pike laughed. "Children hear a lot. Adults decide what matters."

A shadow moved near the fence. Ethan was there, despite Claire's order, keeping low behind a stack of shipping containers. Claire felt anger flare, then fear. If Pike saw him, Ellie would pay.

Ellie saw him too. Her small face changed.

"Mommy," she whispered, "Daddy promised the bad man he'd do it again."