They killed him. She didn’t know for sure, but she knew. He got too close, talked to the wrong people, refused to back down even after they incriminated him and ruined his career.

Alternate justice. Deep down, she understood that might include giving the green light to killing someone, but she’d thought about killing pedophiles freed by rogue juries or serial killers. The worst of the worst. Not some random reporter who walked into the middle of a secret case he didn’t know was being assessed and decided around him. He didn’t deserve the same ending as a man who hated and abused women.

She’d benefitted from the group’s benevolence. Rob Greene had paid for questioning its existence. The juxtaposition of who they were and who protected each of them had her head spinning.

She leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes. Tried to block any thought about the people who loved Rob. About the pain caused in the name of confidentiality.

Her phone buzzed, and her assistant’s voice came over the line. “You’re needed in the conference room to review and sign.”

Jessa didn’t want to move, wasn’t even sure she could. She’d been late coming in today, trapped by police questions and Gabby’s vacant stare. No one scolded or questioned her about her tardiness. She hadn’t mentioned what she’d witnessed or the halting steps that drove her morning.

How did she explain that she might have caused a man’s murder? She’d talked about him with Retta, drawn the line between him and Gabby. She’d created all of this . . . at least in part.

Her phone buzzed again, and this time she got up without answering. She lumbered down the hall, forcing her legs to move even though the sudden heaviness in her muscles had her shuffling.

She opened the conference room door. It took a few seconds for the scene in front of her to register. Balloons and streamers. Every person who worked at the firm, from the support staff to the new associates to the partners, stood around, holding champagne and smiling.

There was a cake on the table and a banner stretched across the back wall. She tried to focus on it, but her brain kept misfiring.

Covington raised his glass. “Congratulations to Covington, Irving and Bach’s newest partner—Jessa Hall.”

Chapter Forty-Six
Gabby

Gabby made the choice. Kennedy leaving would be safer than staying. Gabby hated that simple truth. Problem was, she didn’t have any steam left to explain the potential danger to a disbelieving and hostile teen. The note found her at school, but Gabby realized the real target of that unveiling was her. Someone wanted Gabby to know they were watching.

Message received.