Page 26 of Reckless

But it does not make me stop.

I am not built to stop.

I’m not sure it’s something I even know how to do when the thing in front of me has Patricia’s face in it, nine others similar to her, and twenty-three accounts that deserve to reach the people who can act on them.

My phone buzzes on the desk.

My entire body tightens before I can stop it.

I look down, and it is Marley.

Emotional Support Human: Morning check-in, you okay?

The tightness in my chest loosens a fraction.

Me: I’m good.

Three dots appear immediately.

Emotional Support Human: Liar, but I love you anyway. Still on for lunch?

I find myself almost smiling despite everything, especially at the name I gave her on my phone. It always makes me laugh because it is one hundred percent accurate. Obviously.

I quickly type back.

Me: Absolutely. I’m fading away here, practically a skeleton at this point!

Her response is quick.

Emotional Support Human: Drama queen, see you soon xoxo.

Smiling, I put the phone face down on the desk, turn back to my screen, and look at Patricia’s testimony and the twelve families who came to me because they needed somewhere for their story to land.

I look at the wall.

I look at the name that isn’t written anywhere, but that sits behind every single document pinned up there.

Then I open my notepad, click my pen, and get back to work.

Because that’s what I do.

Because that is the only answer I know how to give to those encrypted messages that try to convince me that what I’m building here doesn’t matter.

It fucking matters!

It matters more than whoever sent those messages is comfortable with.

And that, more than anything, is exactly why I am not going to stop.

Chapter Seven

GHOST

Six Days Later

The parking lot of Millie’s bakery is already half full as I pull in. One glance tells me who’s beaten me here. Another tells me Deek ignored the parking order again.

I pull into the last available space.