“And Chloe?” I asked, my heart hammering against my ribs. “She is your daughter.”

Beatrice looked down at Chloe with utter disgust.

“She was weak,” Beatrice said. “She was going to confess to the DA.”

She raised the lighter, her thumb hovering over the wheel.

“No more witnesses,” Beatrice said.

Liam caught my eye, his gaze shifting slightly toward the dark hallway on the left.

He took a loud, heavy step toward Beatrice, raising his hands in surrender.

“Beatrice, listen to me,” Liam said, his voice commanding the room. “The money is still in the offshore account.”

Beatrice paused, her eyes locking onto him.

“I can transfer it to you right now,” Liam said, reaching slowly into his coat. “You can leave the country.”

While she stared at Liam, I looked at the shadow of the collapsed stage.

I knew this building better than anyone; I had played here as a child before the fire.

Behind the stage was a narrow service corridor that bypassed the main floorboards.

If I could reach it, I could get behind Beatrice without her seeing me in the dark.