Chapter 7 - Fire
"Call the fire department," I said.
The officer was already moving.
On my phone, Marcus walked from room to room, splashing gasoline across the rug, the sofa, the hallway.
My stomach turned.
Daniel stared at the screen. "He's destroying evidence."
"He's destroying me," I said.
Evelyn spoke from behind us. "If you'd stayed out of my business, none of this would be happening."
Robert turned so fast the guard stepped forward.
"Say that again."
Evelyn lifted her chin. "She invaded our family."
I laughed through tears. "I married your son."
"Exactly."
The camera feed flickered.
Marcus crouched by the coffee table.
Then he stopped.
He had found the small framed photo of my mother, who died when I was nineteen.
He looked directly into the camera.
And smiled.
Then he raised a lighter.
The feed went black.
I made a sound I barely recognized as my own.
Daniel caught my shoulders. "Emma, look at me."
"Don't."
"I'm sorry."
"Not now."
"Fire is contained. He never lit the main room. He used the threat to draw officers away."
"Away from what?"
She paused.
"The Bennett house."
The lights went out.
Claire screamed.
The guard reached for his flashlight.
Glass shattered somewhere downstairs.
Robert whispered, "Marcus."
Then a man's voice came from the dark hallway.
"Evelyn!"
Daniel pushed me behind him.
A flashlight beam cut across the room.
Marcus stood in the doorway.
He wasn't holding a gun.
He was holding a folder.
"Tell them," he said to Evelyn. "Or I will."
Evelyn's face went gray.
"Tell us what?" Daniel demanded.
Marcus looked at him.
"That the money wasn't her idea."
May you like
Then he pointed at Robert.
"It was his."
