Page 57 of Ace

"Faye?" Rebecca asks as she flips through her folder once again, something she has done repeatedly since we began talking.

"Our—" I don't even know how to describe her.

Technically, she's our housekeeper, or at least she was several decades ago, but she's transitioned into so much of a grandmother figure for the family, it feels like I'm lessening her value to us.

"She lives with me," I say simply. "I don't want her to know what's going on."

Shame washes over me at the disappointment I know I'd see in her eyes if she knew what I was participating in.

"We'll let you know in advance when we can come, but we'll work around your schedule. The team won't just show up on your doorstep."

I dip my head once again.

"Now, about the actual event."

Event.

As if it's no big deal to schedule telling a family that they've lost someone they love.

"It'll be several days or the better part of a week before I could even possibly get them to come to the house at the same time," I explain. "Chris is in school so it'll have to be on the weekend, and that complicates things for Willbecause he schedules a lot of events on the weekend. It's an election year, so he's very busy."

"We understand. Like I said, the Agency will work around your schedule."

"What happens with Sadie while we're waiting?"

"It was suggested that she stay where she is while all of this plays out."

My chin trembles as I think of her being all alone and so far from home, but what other choice do I have?

I've heard people talk about closure, but I don't know that even having her back in South Carolina would provide that for me.

"Okay," I whisper, pulling a tissue from the box sitting in front of me on the table.

"I think that about wraps everything up," she says. "Do you have any questions?"

I shake my head. "None that I can think of."

"Here is my card, and I've written Mike's number on the back. Feel free to call either one of us if you think of anything."

I take the card, looking down at it. "What about Agent Yarrow?"

"Eddie isn't working this case," she says without a hint of emotion in her voice. She seems indifferent to him all the way around, and I wonder how that would make him feel.

Does he want to be a part of this case?

As she stands and holds out her hand for me to shake, I realize that Eddie's job is over. He was working with Mr. Anderson on this one case, to find Sadie. And although this is the absolute worst possible outcome of that, she has been located.

His job is done, and there's no reason for him to be around any longer.

When the door to the conference room opens, I feel my heart shatter a little more when it's Mike who walks through.Would Eddie pass me off to someone else and leave without even saying goodbye?

But then he's there, shouldering past Mike, his eyes sweeping the length of me, as if he was worried about me this entire time. I take some undeserved comfort in his worry about me.

"Ready to go?" he asks as he steps in front of me.

"Yes."

I don't say a word as we leave the room. I feel like I've talked and cried more today than I ever have in my life, andI'm weary right down to the center of me.

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