Page 56 of Ace

"I'm going to have Rebecca go over some things with you so we can make sure this operation works," Mike says just as the door opens and a woman walks in.

I stand with her, fully intent on sitting beside her while she's briefed on what's going to happen back in South Carolina.

"A word, Eddie," Mike says before I can follow the women out the door.

Chapter 24

Cora

With every step I take, as I exit the conference room, I feel a sort of numbness settling inside of me. I don't know if it's my body's way of trying to protect me, but as soon as I take a seat across from Rebecca in another, smaller room, I feel as if I'm a stranger watching rather than a present person participating. I think this is a better way to handle what's going on. However, I imagine a therapist would have a different viewpoint on things.

Sadie being gone is something I know to be true, but there's a part deep down inside of me that just can't accept it. How can there be a world where my little sister doesn't exist? It doesn't seem possible, and as heartbroken as I was losing both of my parents, this is somehow worse. In the circle of life, we're supposed to lose our parents. Our lives are meant to extend past theirs, so there's some sense of reason in that. It makes sense. But losing a sibling, and in such a tragic way, is difficult to wrap my head around.

"Mike explained what we'd like to see happen?" Rebecca asks as she takes a seat across from me.

"He did," I say with a dip of my head, my voice sounding distant and disconnected.

"Would you like something to drink before we get started?"

I shake my head. My throat feels parched, but I know the second something hits my stomach, I'll get sick. It's already turning and aching after seeing that picture of Sadie.

"I'm not going to go into detail about what happened to Sadie," she begins. "So beware the story we're going to tell will be much different from what occurred. I suggest creating some mental distance between the two. It might make it easier to handle until this is over and you're able to grieve."

Her voice is comforting, but the words leaving her lips are like razor blades on my skin.

Until you're able to grieve.

I can't picture a single minute for the rest of my life when I won't be grieving for her and wishing I'd done things differently.

"Can you tell me about your sister?"

I blink at her, wondering why any details about her life would be relevant at this point.

I open my mouth to argue that, but it isn't Rebecca's fault that I sent my sister away to die.

I clamp my lips closed, pulling in a deep breath before I begin.

As much as I'd like to only speak about the good things, it isn't Sadie's good behavior and compassion for others that got us to this point. If they really think William is responsible for her death, then the things that she did that might've made him want her gone are pertinent.

I don't want to believe my brother would be capable of such a heinous act, but I wouldn't protect him if he was.

"I told Agent Yarrow about her," I explain.

Rebecca flips pages in her folder before looking back up at me. "I have no notes from Agent Yarrow."

I don't know if those things said in confidence are being kept that way or if he just hasn't had the chance to update the file.

"From an early age, Sadie was a troubled child," I begin.

The limited energy Iwalked into this building with drains over the next several hours as I go through Sadie's life, realizing that after she left home a handful of years ago, I didn't have much information on her other than how she looked and acted when she would pop up sporadically.

"So we'll just need you to confirm that the house is clear for our guys to come in and place the cameras," Rebecca explains.

"How long will that take?" I ask, now numb to all of it, despite fresh tears threatening behind my eyes.

"Less than an hour. They're fairly quick."

"I'll have to get Faye out of the house," I say absently.

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