“It’s the Thorne family behind all of this. It started with Rasmussen making the phone calls. He was deep in gambling debt, and they began giving him assignments. When he started dating Imogen, it looks like he thought his money problems were over. Instead, he got in deeper. They pressured him to escalate what he was doing. He balked. He was unraveling, becoming a liability.”
He pauses briefly.
“Imogen made it known to the people he owed that Rasmussen was a liability and that she would pay if he stopped being a problem.”
“How did you find all of this?” Remy asks. “I thought his computer was wiped clean.”
“It was. But once I knew where to look, Imogen’s wasn’t. Neither was her brother’s. He overvalues his cyber skills.”
“He sent a copy of the fake to the reporter,” Coulson continues. “Blind copied Ubaldo.”
“Ubaldo?” Remy asks.
“Sorry. The son. Ubaldo Thorne. It means ‘courageous thinker.’ His parents had high hopes. They should have named him something with ‘smart’ in the title.”
Meg snorts quietly.
“The blind copy tipped Spivey off,” Coulson says. “He started digging into the Thornes. When he approached Ubaldo with questions…” He shrugs. “Imogen contacted the same people who handled Rasmussen. She offered a donation in exchange for help with a problem. All over email.”
“But none of this ties to Carlotta,” Erik cuts in. “We can assume, but that’s not enough for court.”
Alexis breaks in. “In the court of public opinion, all of this is enough. Christianna’s story is powerful. People will rally behind her. The Thornes will be under fire from every direction, social media and traditional press alike.”
Coulson nods. “They operate in the shadows, using other people. Once you drag their actions into the light, they’ll be shunned. They’ll disappear. Most likely Spain or Italy, where they keep homes.”
Remy shakes his head. “I don’t like it. What if they reach out to the same people to hurt Christianna? If they’re out of the country, it doesn’t matter.”
Coulson shrugs. “Doubtful. Both Spain and Italy will extradite, as long as the death penalty isn’t on the table. While Louisiana has reinstated it, they’d likely remove it for extradition purposes.”
“Likely?” Erik snaps. “I will not have her life tied to likely. We need the threat stopped.”
Coulson nods once. “I have a friend at the FBI. The money they transferred came from a foreign bank. We can look into freezing their accounts. And I have connections who can make it clear to the bookies that continuing to assist them wouldn’t be received favorably.”
My phone pings. I glance down. A text from Madame.
I nudge Meg and turn the screen toward her.
We exchange a look. I nod.
Across the patio, Coulson’s attention sharpens. He doesn’t ask. He doesn’t need to. If it came through my phone, he’s already seen it.
I rise to my feet. The conversation between Erik and Remy about protection details stops mid-sentence.
“I’m going to do the interview,” I say. “The only decision now is whether we take our relationship public at the same time. I will be asked about it.”
“Christianna,” Alexis’s voice cuts in from the computer, calm and sharp. “If you’re comfortable being assertive, we can turn the tables. If they ask, answer with a question. ‘Are you asking about my bedroom activities?’ Make them say it. Make them own it.”
She pauses briefly.
“I can control the network narrative. But if someone else presses you, lean into it. Most people will be offended on your behalf. Let them expose themselves.”
“That sounds simple. Why does it sound so simple?”
“When you have a plan going in, it is easier. You are not being ambushed out of the blue.” Alexis’s voice stays even. “And you can turn it on them further. ‘Oh, we’re discussing this? What is your favorite position? You seem like a doggy-style type to me.’ That will shock them and back them off.”
“Okay. Do we need to set up a meeting so you can prepare me for this? What is our timeline?”
“I want to get out in front of this before they escalate further.”
