Letty gasped. “I read on a friend’s social media post that a group of them would be in Charleston for a conference,” she drawled. “His name was on the list.”
Rhea tapped the screen to bring up similar photos. “Metadata confirms timestamp. That’s not the morning of your training exercise.” She typed and clicked on an image as everyone glanced at the screen. “This is the morning of the training exercise. He was there on at least two different days.”
Wyatt’s shoulders tightened. “He was here before the fire.”
“Yes,” Cal replied. “And he met with muscle.”
Letty swallowed. “He looks like he’s trying to blend into the training on the far side of the dock.”
Cal nodded once. “I pulled his certification history. Advanced fire behavior training with coursework in accelerant analysis and incident staging.”
Wyatt’s jaw ticked. “He’d know how to make it look accidental but create chaos.”
“And how to avoid detection,” Rhea added.
The screen shifted again, another image. A supply store receipt popped onto the screen. It showed a purchase for acetone, two days before the gala.
Rhea tapped on the keys. “The last four digits of the card match a consulting expense account tied to…”
Letty wrapped her arms around herself as she murmured. “Will.”
Cal didn’t answer, waiting.
“He could argue it was for research,” Rhea moved the cursor to hover over his name.
“He will,” Wyatt replied.
Letty stepped back from the screen. “He knew I’d photograph everything.”
Wyatt nodded. “Meaning?”
“He told me once I’d document my own funeral if it improved my data set.”
Wyatt’s head dropped. “Well, shit, he anticipated you.”
“Yes.”
Rhea zoomed the dock image tighter.
Will’s posture was relaxed. Driscoll’s was deferential.
“They’re not equals,” Wyatt said.
“No,” Cal agreed. “They aren’t.”
Letty tightened her jaw before she dropped her hands to her side. “He didn’t just get involved,” she muttered. “He orchestrated it. Will thought he could manipulate me into not investigating.”
“Why resort to intimidation?” Rhea asked.
“Because she didn’t fold,” Wyatt growled.
Cal nodded once.
“The email tonight?” He clicked his tongue. “That wasn’t muscle.”
Letty swallowed. “No. It was calculated and personal, from someone who knows me.” She furrowed her brow. “He’s tryingto control the narrative, and what better way than to discredit me. Close the file before it opens.”
“And if that fails?” Wyatt asked.
