Chapter 75

Sarah shifted her eyes left and right. They had to act. Now that they were seated it would be harder. They could overpower him, but someone might get hurt in the trying.

“Why are you doing this?” she said. “Why would you want to kill Helen? Why did you kill Andrea Blackwell?”

The man’s face twisted. He looked different. His voice was soft, and she barely heard it in the wind.

“What kind of parents are these? What kind of family life do they provide? People never change. Their children will be forever scarred. My guardians provide love and stability. Not anger and loathing. I do it for the children.” He paused. “I did it for the children.”

He examined the gun in his hand, tilting it one way then the other. He bent and laid the large revolver on the ground.

Scott leaped to his feet. Before he could move forward, the man leaped as well. Toward them. Over them. He sprang over Sarah, diving forward, plunging over the edge of the cliff.

They all sat there, stunned. They didn’t hear a sound other than the wind and the surf. But he was gone.

Scott ran to the cliff edge. “I can see him!” He turned back to the group. “There’s no question. He’s dead.”

Helen ran to look and Scott held her back, held her tight, their bodies swaying as if the wind was that strong.

“He’s dead, he’s dead,” sang Baby Owen softly to himself.