Page 36 of Innocent Until Proven Witch

"No."

His gaze returns to the reports. "The timeline is wrong."

"Correct."

"The storm formation is wrong."

"Yes."

Finn reads another page. The silence stretches, until finally he looks at me. "They blamed the wrong people."

The simplicity of the statement almost makes me laugh. Not because it's funny. Because it took generations for someone to say it out loud.

I stare at the records, then at him. "My grandmother spent her life carrying that accusation."

His jaw tightens. I already know what he's thinking, because I'm thinking it too. Someone benefited. Someone wanted a villain. Someone made sure they got one.

He closes the final ledger. "Then we keep digging."

The answer comes so quickly that I blink. "That's your response?"

"What did you expect?"

"I don't know."

He leans against the table. "I expect whoever started this counted on nobody questioning it."

A slow smile tugs at my lips. "And now?"

His gaze holds mine. "Now they have a problem."

The stillness in his voice settles within my heart. Not because he's making promises. Because he believes it, believes me and the difference matters.

Outside, waves crash against the cliffs. Inside, the old story begins unraveling one page at a time. Now, after opening those records, I find myself wanting to see what comes next.

14

FINN

The knock nearly takes the door off its hinges. I look up from the paperwork spread across the boathouse table, and my mother mutters something under her breath as the door flies open before either of us can answer.

Row storms inside, his face pale, and my stomach immediately tightens. Something happened.

"What is it?" I ask.

He looks between us. "Another boat."

Every muscle in my body goes still. "What do you mean another boat?"

His jaw hardens. "It vanished."

My mother sets down her mug. "Which vessel?"

"The Silver Crest."

The name hits hard. I know that crew. Not well. Well enough.

"Where?"