have a son like him. He’s got a bad streak in him.”
“What happened to them?” Tony asked.
“They’re in big trouble. Out on bail but facing federal charges, and it’s up in the air as to whether they’ll be tried as juveniles or adults.”
Tony blinked. “Federal?”
“All of that happened on federal lands...and then they lied to the park rangers, who are federal employees, and the story goes on. They hid your backpack so it wouldn’t be found, and I guess you crawling into that cave was what delayed finding you. They expected your body to be found right off, and when it wasn’t, then they were caught up in their own lies.”
“Oh my God. What are they going to think about me at school?” he mumbled.
Baxter smiled. “Nothing other than you are one tough dude to have survived what they did to you, and you have your girl to thank for that. We heard through the grapevine that she talked to the principal, who made an announcement at your school that you’d been found—and noted who was to blame for what happened. She wanted to make sure you didn’t come back to any troubles.”
Tony wiped the tears off his face. “She’s awesome, Dad. Really awesome.”
“Oh...that thing Justin said about her the night you guys had your fight... It was a lie. He admitted it to his parents and to the people we hired to find you.”
Tony sighed. “I already knew it was a lie. I knew my heart...and I knew my girl.”
Baxter patted his shoulder. “I’m proud of you, son.”
Tony glanced at the time. “I guess Trish is in school right now.”
“I don’t think so. Macie said the rest of this week is parent-teacher conference.”
“Could I talk to her, Dad?”
Baxter grinned. “Yes, and I suppose you want me to leave the room while you do?”
Tony grinned sheepishly. “Just give me a few minutes.”
“You got it,” Baxter said, then pulled up her number and made the call.
* * *
Trish Caldwell was in her room hanging up laundry. She had opted out of going to the mall with her friends, to stay home and help her mom by catching up on household chores.
When her phone rang and she saw who was calling, her heart sank. It was Baxter Dawson’s number. Her hands were shaking as she answered, and all she could think was Please don’t let this be bad news.
“Hello?”
“Good morning, Trish. Baxter Dawson here. I have someone who wants to talk to you. Hang on a minute.”
Before Trish could think, Tony’s voice was in her ear.
“Hey, you,” he said.
“Tony! Oh my God... Tony!” she said, and burst into tears.
At that point, Baxter walked out of the room.
“Don’t cry, honey. Please don’t cry.”
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault,” Trish kept saying. “I should have—”
“Stop,” Tony said. “I’m going to run out of energy fast, so just listen. I don’t blame you for anything. None of that shit was your fault, and I never believed what Justin said. That’s what made them mad. Because what they planned didn’t work. You and I are fine...if you still want it, I mean. I’m pretty beat up, and I may walk with a limp for the rest of my life, but I will be walking, and I still have two arms to hug you. I love you, Trish, and if that’s enough for you, then you’re enough for me.”
Trish was laughing now, and sobbing. “Yes, yes, always...you’ll always be enough. I thought I’d lost you, and then they found you, and that was enough. I love you, too, Tony Dawson. I can’t wait to see you again.”
* * *
Wyrick was watching news coverage on an update about the devastation caused by Hurricane Dorian to the northern part of the Grand Bahama and the Abaco chain. There were places that had been completely leveled to the point that they were no longer inhabitable.
And that was when it hit her.
This was what she could do with Cyrus’s money. Charity was beyond him...even beneath him, and it was going to piss him off royally to know that was what she’d done with it. It would probably agitate their situation again, but she didn’t care. He wouldn’t leave her alone, so she felt no compunction in striking back where it hurt.
She was also working on a new file she called FAILSAFE that was going to stop all of this shit. Everything she had, everything she knew and every piece of data she’d ever collected while working for Universal