"I bet."
"But I figured once I got through the presentation, it would all settle down, you know?"
"No. I don't," I admitted. "Why would you think that?"
"Because I was heading to Miami right after – and for a whole month – so I figured it would be fine."
I cut in. "Fine?"
"Okay, not fine-fine, but nothing I can't handle." She paused. "I think, 'I'll just get through this presentation and figure it out after.' Because by now, it's pretty obvious that Carver Health is gonna implode no matter whatIdo."
No kidding.But I wanted to hear her version. "Because…?"
"Because they're getting sued by everybody and their brother. After discovery, they'll surely go under. And Evan? He's gonna end up in prison." Her voice grew quiet. "Or at least I sure hope so."
I considered why she was here on the island. "So you're doing what? Waiting him out?"
"Notjustthat," she said. "There was that second reason, remember?"
"Your sister."
"Right." A shadow passed over her face. "Just before I'm about to speak – you know, at that presentation – Evan comes up and shakes my hand, all friendly like, but then, he leans in and whispers straight into my ear." Tessa gave a little shiver. "Do you wanna guess what he said?"
I was lost past guessing. "Tell me."
"He says… " Again, she mimicked his voice. "What I said aboutyou– that goes double for your sister."
My jaw clenched. "He didn't."
"He did. And of course, I'm totally shocked – not just because of the threat, but because I didn't even realize he knew Ihada sister. I mean, sure, it wouldn't be hard to find out, but it was all so premeditated that I didn't know what to do."
"Ihave some ideas."
"Yeah, me too," she said. "But they're mostly illegal, and besides, it's not like I own a machete."
At this, Ialmostsmiled. "A machete?"
"Or a machine gun." She shrugged. "I'm just saying, I've had some thoughts. But his timing – it was no accident. Obviously, hewantedme to flip out – or look totally crazy. Like, let's say I stopped right there and called him on what he'd just said, who would've believed me?"
"Iwould've."
She gave a hollow laugh. "Yeah, but you weren't there, were you?"
My fingers flexed. "IwishI were."
"You wanna know whatIwish?"
"What?"
She grimaced. "I wish I'd never met him in the first place."
Suddenly, I just had to know. "And how about socially?"
This made her pause. "What do you mean?"
"The way I hear it, the two of you were dating."
44
