Page 26 of Riptide
They were all talking at once now, planning, strategizing, their voices overlapping as the plan took shape.
Cara sat in the middle of it, overwhelmed.
"What about me?" she asked when there was a break. "What do I do?"
"You run the bakery," Reagan said firmly. "Look scared. Don't let Blaire know we're investigating."
"Just keep doing what you're doing," Wade added. "We'll handle the rest."
"And if Blaire contacts me?"
"Don't respond unless you have to. If she pushes, stall. Tell her you're working on getting the money." Reagan met her eyes. "But don't engage more than necessary. We need time to work."
"What about Gabe?" The question slipped out before Cara could stop it.
The room went quiet.
"What about him?" Tom asked carefully.
"He knows something's wrong. And he knows I'm running from something."
Reagan rubbed her face. "What did you tell him?"
"Nothing. I shut him out. Told him I was handling it."
"Good." Wade nodded. "Keep it that way. We’re going to have to go on the dark side of legal here. Can’t involve him."
Definitely not. Cara stood. "Okay. Let’s meet here every night at seven. Share findings, adjust strategy.”
“Agreed,” Wade added, knees cracking as he rose. “Eleven days isn't much time, but it's enough if we're smart."
"And if we're not?" Piper asked.
"Then Cara disappears and we all claim ignorance." Tom's voice was matter-of-fact. "But let's not get to that point."
The team dispersed. Tom to his computers. Piper pulling up Instagram analytics. Wade checking his surveillance equipment. Reagan making a list of contacts to call.
Cara sat at the table, watching them work.
Reagan sat back down beside her. "Hey. You okay?"
"I don't know. This is... a lot."
"You did good tonight. Telling us. Asking for help. That took courage."
"I'm still lying to you," Cara said quietly. "There's so much I'm not telling you."
"I know." Reagan's smile was gentle. "But you told us enough. The rest? That's yours to share when you're ready. If you're ever ready. That's the deal we all have here. We don't push."
"What if what I did is really bad? Worse than you think?"
"Then it's really bad." Reagan shrugged. "But you're here now. You're helping people now. David Sawyer is alive because of you. That's who you are now. The rest?" She gestured vaguely. "That's between you and whatever comes next."
Cara's throat tightened. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. Wait until we actually pull this off." Reagan stood. "Now go home. Get some sleep. Let us work."
Cara climbed the stairs, paused at the top to look back.
