“It’s a good cause.” The adrenaline racing through Gabby slowed. She could do this. A party like this, being among the people possibly manipulating behind the scenes to rip her family apart, demanded all her control and acting ability. Lucky for her, pretending and tolerating were the two things she excelled at lately.

Jessa’s smile widened. “There’s a rumor in my office that your brother-in-law was questioned in Baines’s death.”

One hard smack. That’s all it would take to knock that satisfied grin off her face. Gabby really thought about entertaining the crowd and doing it, but Liam needed her. He didn’t know it and certainly didn’t believe it, but he did. “Did you start that rumor, Jessa?”

Jessa drained her glass and picked a second glass off a passing tray. “You’re exhausting.”

The slight dip in her voice. Gabby heard it and dove in. Hate Jessa or not, Gabby had to try. Had to push and, maybe, save Jessa from her terrible choices . . . this time. “This group you’re in or trying to get in with is very dangerous.”

Jessa’s saccharine smile finally slipped. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. It’s a charity. Nothing more.”

“For someone who habitually lies, you’re not very good at it.”

Jessa’s fingers tightened around the thin glass stem. “You should stop this.”

Not as collected and in control as she pretended to be. Gabby saw that truth and noted it, not sure what that meant about how deep Jessa had gone into the darkness. “Define ‘this.’”

“Poking around. Buying into outrageous conspiracy theories.”

People walked around them. A few said hello, but no one tried to get in the middle of their conversation. Jessa thrummed with a strange sensation. Gabby thought it might be panic, but maybe that was wishful thinking. Jessa lacked that little voice that warned about going too far. About crossing a line.

If this group’s activities shook Jessa, Gabby feared for Liam and Kennedy. The only option might be to work with Jessa, which sounded almost too daunting to be possible.

Gabby lowered her already soft voice to a whisper. “Tell me why the police are going after Liam.”

“Ask the police.”

“What is your group afraid I’ll find? Bigger question, why did Baines need to die?” Gabby watched the swagger drain from Jessa. “If you don’t know, tell me how I can find out.”

“You’re insane.” Jessa’s fingers clenched and unclenched around the glass as she talked.

She’d found a weak spot. Gabby didn’t know why or what had Jessa spooked, but she leaned into it. “This group has killed people. Mostly men. Mostly shitty men. That doesn’t make killing okay, but it does explain why no one is questioning the deaths. They view the loss of life as a benefit to the community, which is how I assume you justify murdering people.”