“Right now, you need to get packed so we can go get your daughter and listen to her tell us how we’ve ruined her life.”

Our daughter. “We do have a lot to talk about and work through.”

He shrugged. “When we’re ready, we will. Until then, we fake it.”

Her specialty. “Agreed.”

Chapter Eighty-Four
The Foundation

This follow-up meeting had been scheduled to vote on the Gabby situation and on other issues of concern to the ongoing functioning of the Foundation. Loretta would lead the meeting because all members agreed that Faith could not be present while she was under such prevalent media and law enforcement pressure.

The remaining members gathered on time, as always. The whispering and head nodding stopped the minute Retta entered the room. Without greetings and explanations, she sat down and started the meeting.

“While I have decided to retire from the bench, I will not be leaving the Foundation, either the actual Foundation or our group.” Gabby would not win on that score. The group would be more careful, not issue death decisions except in specially defined cases, but the work would not stop.

Gabby had leverage, but so did Retta. They were locked in a battle where one could destroy the other. Retta was betting Gabby’s need to protect her family would overcome her need to check on the group’s ongoing progress. They would be careful. Not draw attention . . . and Gabby would never know.

Melissa Schone, who usually didn’t say much, spoke up. “At our last meeting, Faith suggested you might take a temporary leave of absence.”

“It’s not her decision, it’s ours.” Retta had no interest in ceding control of the floor. She needed control over the agenda to keep questions to a minimum. “Our failure to abide by our own process and rules, even those not explicitly stated, increased the danger to all of us and cost lives. The new, clearer rules we agree to will prevent that level of collateral damage and potential discovery.”

Dr. Downing’s eyebrow lifted. “Our failure?”

The room went quiet. Retta pushed the conversation in the direction she needed it to go. “Is there a problem with the agenda?”

Dr. Downing flipped to the last page. “There’s no mention of Faith or Gabby here.”

Retta knew they needed this resolved as soon as possible. Four days of unrelenting press coverage was enough for Faith. “First, Faith. Melissa, do you have a status?”

“The police have two emails between Faith and Penelope Young, the missing mother in the cold case mentioned in the media, likely covered by privilege, that may support Christopher Young’s claim about his wife and child being alive,” Detective Schone explained. “We didn’t turn them over, correct?”

We? No. “Correct,” Retta confirmed, knowing she was walking a very careful line.