“No, reality. Retta knew on an intimate, painful level about the system’s failures, law enforcement’s ambivalence, and the public’s short attention span.” Faith’s voice never lifted above a harsh whisper, but fury rattled through it. “You have no idea what it’s like to help someone only to have the system that’s designed to protect them suck away their hope then fail them.”

Gabby didn’t want to hear justifications and sad stories. “You knew what would happen to Jessa when she got to Baines’s house. You sent Trent.”

“We protect the group at all costs.”

Not a denial. “That’s madness. Do you hear yourself?” Gabby looked around, hoping to see reinforcements, but then would she even recognize them? Anyone could be in this group or related to it or working for it. The tentacles seemed to have endless reach. “You explain away the things you do with an end-justifies-the-means mentality while gleefully playing judge and jury.”

“Are you done talking yet?”

“Never mind that innocent people, people who aren’t part of the abusive crowd you want to eliminate, get hurt and killed in the process. Rob and Tami. Do you remember them? The reporters. They’d just gotten engaged. Baines. Poor Jessa.” Gabby could see how the hideous process justified itself, but this was too much.

“Regretful but necessary.” Faith’s expression didn’t change. “But the group didn’t touch your precious ex.”

This woman. “I guess you accept a certain level of collateral damage. Is that how you justify the string of deaths? Do you pretend they aren’t really people? Write their lives off to the good of the cause and keep on making judgments?”

“You don’t know anything about us or what the group believes. We live and die by these decisions and grieve every loss.” Faith tapped her hand against her chest. “We fix the mess others create and make it safer for you to travel around in your insular, wealthy world without fear. So you’re welcome.”

“You talk a good game, but you ordered the murder of your best friend.” Gabby saw Faith flinch and kept going. “Who does that? You can argue about justice and the system’s failures all you want, but how can you justify a betrayal like that?”

“I had no choice. You gave me no choice.”

Gabby would not take on that responsibility. She had always been honest—maybe too honest—with Jessa. “You sound like one of those abusers you hate so much.”

“She had been warned over and over. She knew she was being tested and ignored every alarm and warning, including mine.” Faith shook her head. “She didn’t know about my role, but she made it clear she was under fire, and I gave her support. She promised she would stop engaging in dangerous activities, but you kept dragging her back in.”