It had already been decided by the group that the professor’s career would not survive the hearing. The university president was one of the group’s targets as well. But the professor would lose his job, despite tenure. Settle for a quiet resolution, which would include payments to the young women involved. Not a perfect answer, but one that would take him out of power. Then the Sophies would watch him. This was his only chance, even though he didn’t know they were allowing it.

But before that, another topic.

The leader started talking, knowing the room would go silent and all would provide her with rapt attention. “We have neutralized the growing issue.”

They all watched her now.

“The reporter partners—both of them—now have been stopped. Neither can speak on the supposed existence of a group of vigilantes.”

“Did he accept money?” The question came from the therapist who did testing and offered opinions in contested custody matters.

“There was an accident. Bike accident. He died on impact. Hit-and-run. There were witnesses, including Jessa, but no one agrees on what they saw, and the security cameras on the street didn’t point to any identifying evidence. No license plates. No shots of the driver.”

One hand went up. “The police will check garages for damaged vehicles.”

“There’s nothing left to find.” The leader waited a few seconds, but no one asked any other questions. “As promised.”

The greater good came first. That meant there would be collateral damage from time to time. Regrettable but necessary. Rob Greene had been a problem for a while now. They had to stop him, and destroying his reputation hadn’t been enough of a hint.

“I think we need to talk about our probationary member, Jessa.”

“Is there another problem with her?” the child psychologist asked.

“Possibly.”

Chapter Forty-Four
Gabby

Gabby’s gasping turned to hiccupping breaths. After an hour answering questions about the accident she’d witnessed, she finally got to Liam’s house. She barely made it to the kitchen before throwing up. Now she stood over the sink, mumbling and crying. She rubbed her hands raw. Scrubbed away the blood that dripped down the drain.

“Gabby?”

She could hear Liam’s voice, but the blood wouldn’t disappear. She took the brush and raked it over her skin.

“Wait . . . no. Stop.” Liam came around from behind her. He knocked the brush out of her hands, sending it clanking into the sink, then held her fingers still as he turned off the water. He shifted her to face him. “What the hell is going on?”

“The blood.”

His hold on her upper arms kept her from shifting around. She stayed still as his gaze searched her face. “There’s no blood.”

“Look at . . .” No red. Not this time.

“See?” He nodded toward the empty sink. “Water only.”

“He’s dead.” The answer escaped on a whisper. She didn’t have the strength to add more details.

“Who?”