Chapter 16 - The Coast House
Claire did not come alone.
She only made it look that way.
Grant contacted police.
State troopers surrounded the roads leading toward the abandoned Whitman coast house near Gloucester.
But Vanessa had chosen the location carefully.
The property sat above rocky cliffs.
Only one access road.
No nearby houses.
Thick fog from the Atlantic.
Claire carried a duplicate flash drive.
The original remained with prosecutors.
A tiny transmitter was sewn into her coat.
At 5:41 A.M., she entered the house.
“Noah?”
Her voice echoed.
Then she heard wheels.
Vanessa pushed Noah into the old living room.
His hands were tied loosely to the armrests.
He was frightened but conscious.
Claire’s chest tightened.
Vanessa held a handgun pointed toward the floor.
“Show me the drive.”
Claire held it up.
“Let Noah go.”
Vanessa laughed softly.
“You still think you can negotiate.”
“You lost.”
“Grant knows.”
“The police know.”
“Richard is talking.”
“Tony is talking.”
“Samuel is talking.”
Vanessa’s eyes changed when Claire mentioned Samuel.
“Coward.”
“You chose cowards.”
Vanessa pushed Noah closer to the open terrace doors.
Behind him, the stone terrace ended near the cliff.
Claire immediately understood.
Another accident.
Another fall.
Vanessa looked at Noah.
“This child ruined everything.”
Claire stepped forward.
“No.”
“You ruined everything.”
Vanessa raised the gun.
“Stop.”
Claire stopped.
Noah looked at her.
Then something remarkable happened.
He spoke.
Clearly.
“Dad knows.”
Vanessa turned toward him.
Noah continued.
“You killed Mom.”
Vanessa’s face twisted.
“You don’t remember anything.”
“I remember you.”
The words cut deeper than shouting.
Vanessa moved toward him.
Claire lunged.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Noah screamed.
Claire struck Vanessa’s arm.
The weapon slid across the floor.
Vanessa grabbed the wheelchair.
She shoved.
Claire caught it.
For one horrible second, history repeated itself.
Noah rolled toward an open drop.
Claire dug her heels into the floor.
Vanessa pushed harder.
Then Grant’s voice thundered from the doorway.
“Get away from my son.”
Vanessa froze.
Police flooded the room.
She looked toward the terrace.
Toward the cliff.
May you like
Toward escape.
Then she ran.
