“Elena is secure,” Marcus said.

“She is talking.”

“She gave us the passwords to Caleb’s local servers.”

“We have everything we need to clear out his people from the docks.”

“What will Adrian do with her?” I asked.

“She will be delivered to the authorities in the morning,” Marcus said.

“Adrian wants no more blood on this estate.”

“We are cleaning the ledger.”

I felt a weight lift from my chest.

“Good,” I said.

“We have had enough blood.”

The next morning, the rain had stopped.

A pale, cold sun rose over the Hudson Valley.

The mist rose from the wet grass in thin white plumes.

I walked down to Clara’s room with a tray of toast and tea.

She was sitting up in bed, looking out the large window at the valley.

She looked better than she had the night before.

Her graying hair was brushed back and tied with a ribbon.

“Good morning, Clara,” I said.

She looked at me and smiled faintly.

“Thank you, Nora,” she said.

I set the tray on her lap.

“Adrian is downstairs with the lawyers,” I said.