JULIAN

He trailed off. "Claire said the same thing to me today," Ethan added quietly. "That I'm like him, like father like son."

"Are you asking me to disagree?" I asked.

"I don't know what I'm asking," Ethan admitted. "Maybe just to hear that someone doesn't think I'm capable of that."

I thought about it, about Ethan and all the ways he'd failed as a person, as a husband, as a man, but murder?

"You're not a murderer," I said finally. "You're selfish and cruel sometimes, but you're not that."

"Thanks," Ethan said, sounding genuinely relieved. "I think."

"Don't thank me," I replied. "I'm not saying you're a good person,...