Chapter 86: Across Black Water

For a few careful minutes, the world looked almost ordinary.

Adrian commandeers a harbor patrol boat and pursues the ferry through darkness. Claire disables the engine but becomes trapped with Marcus on the upper deck.

Adrian understood that the next choice would be remembered long after the explanation. They had become unusually honest since the divorce began. Honesty did not make the choices easier, but it stopped them from pretending that ease was the same thing as peace.

Marcus reveals Victor promised him a new identity and now has arranged his death instead.

"You were never his partner. You were evidence he planned to erase."

Neither of them called it forgiveness. Forgiveness was too large for one night and too fragile to demand.

Marcus lowers the gun, then a distant sniper shot hits him.