“None of the stuff about Maddie being in on the financial scam is true. She was used just like you were. These brothers didn’t care who they destroyed so long as they collected the cash.” He needed her to know that. He needed everyone in the room to be clear on that.

“You’re sure about Maddie’s role? I mean, none of it matters now but, if true, it could point us in other directions. Maybe we should keep an open mind here.” Jenna’s voice sounded genuine rather than accusatory. “You haven’t known her that long. Right?”

“Connor has been here almost two weeks, but I met her after she arrived here years ago.” Sylvia looked at Ben as she spoke, then back to Jenna. “I agree with Connor. No way is she heading up some elaborate scheme and letting other people pay for her crimes. Not Maddie.”

“The question is, who would benefit from feeding Daria false information?” Ben said, cutting right to the point.

Daria shrugged. “No one.”

“Evan.” All the confusion and frustration blocking Connor cleared. The truth stood out in its starkness. So clear that he wondered how they all missed it before. “Don’t you see? He gets you enraged and doubting, Daria. Picks at the friendship and the doubts, but does it anonymously. Basically weaponizes you and then pretends Maddie is in trouble.”

“Why?” Jenna asked.

Connor looked around the room to see if they were listening, getting it. “To give him the leverage he needs to convince Maddie to leave Whitaker and go with him.”

“I thought she was his escape plan, but maybe there’s more happening here,” Jenna said.

Exactly. That was Connor’s worry. He didn’t expect Jenna to be an ally in the concern, but he welcomed any help. “Hell, he had Maddie feeling guilty and thinking about going back in days ago.”

All that blackmail and manipulation. He found her weakness and pressed on it until she flinched. Connor vowed never to doubt his initial impression of a person again. When it came to Evan, Connor waded through bouts of unexpected jealousy. Let his past creep in and throw him off stride.

Never again.

Ben made a humming sound. “It’s more likely he’s using you as the bargaining chip.”

That stopped every thought moving through Connor’s brain. “Meaning?”

“The one way to get her to help him off the island is to threaten you.”

“I agree,” Sylvia said.

Jenna took over. “And he would have had access to the note. I mean, I’m assuming.”

“No.” Daria shook her head. “I told Ben I’d never seen that before.”