Chapter 6

On the fourth day, Jack found us.

He rode up on his motorcycle, dusty, tired, but alive. He had a cut on his forehead and his left arm was in a sling. But he was smiling.

"Rook ran," he said. "His men are in jail or scattered. Torres has warrants. The case is solid. But Rook — he got away. And he's not going to stop until he has that card. Or you."

My stomach dropped. "So what now?"

"Now," Jack said, "we end it. Rook has one play left. He'll go after something you love. Something he can use to make you come to him. Your aunt Ruth."

I stood up so fast the chair fell over. "Ruth?"

"Torres has agents on the way to her house," Jack said. "But Rook moves fast. If he's already there —"

I didn't let him finish. I grabbed my jacket. "Let's go."

We rode for four hours. To the town where Ruth lived. A small place. A white house with a porch. Ruth's garden — her roses — were still blooming.

But the front door was open.

Jesse drew his gun. Jack had his. I followed them inside.

The house was ransacked. Drawers open. Furniture overturned. Ruth's favorite teacup was shattered on the floor.

And on the kitchen table — a note. In Rook's handwriting.

Bring the card. Come alone. Or she dies. You know where.

Jack read it. His face went hard. "The old mill. Outside of town. Daniel used to —" He stopped. Looked at me. "That's where he killed your father."

I felt cold all over. "Then that's where we end it."

Jack shook his head. "Claire, no. It's a trap. We wait for Torres. We do this right."

"Ruth is there," I said. "If we wait, she dies. I'm going. With the card. And you can either come with me or stay here, but I'm going."

Jack stared at me. Then he laughed — a short, bitter sound. "You really are Daniel's daughter."

He looked at Jesse. "You got that wire Torres gave you?"

Jesse nodded.

"Then let's go," Jack said. "But we do this my way. Claire — you wear the wire. You go in. You talk. You keep Rook busy. Jesse and I will be right behind. And Torres — he'll be listening. He'll have men there. We just need Rook to say the words. To confess. To admit to Daniel's murder. To admit to Ruth's kidnapping. Then we take him down."

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I looked at them. At Jack — the man who'd been my father's best friend. At Jesse — the man I'd kissed in a mountain cabin. At the card in my pocket — my father's legacy.

"Okay," I said. "Let's end this."