He turned to Charles, his voice urgent and sharp.

“Charles, you have made a terrible mistake,” the Senator warned.

“You need to give him his daughter right now.”

“We cannot do that,” Charles said, though his voice lacked its previous strength.

“Ryan has her in the secure room,” Charles added. “They are leaving.”

“On the helicopter?” I asked.

The sound of the rotor blades outside seemed to grow louder, vibrating through the floorboards.

“They are going to a private clinic,” Evelyn said, her voice cracking.

“Emily needs treatment,” she added. “She is unstable.”

“She is not unstable,” I said.

“She found your offshore accounts.”

“She found the wire transfers to the local zoning board and the sheriff’s personal trust,” I added.

Sheriff Mercer’s hand tightened on his gun.

“That is enough out of you,” Mercer said.

He began to draw his pistol from the holster.

I moved before the barrel could clear the leather.

I crossed the distance between us in a single stride.

My left hand gripped his wrist, twisting it downward.

The bone popped, and Mercer let out a sharp cry of pain.