Page 123 of Close Your Eyes and Count to 10

“Your husband, Miller Crane, the biotech engineer accused of embezzling funds, stealing ideas from junior scientists. As the authorities descended, he fled and remained missing until he was recently captured.”

“That’s right,” she said. “But he returned to face his crimes and make amends to his kids. He turned himself in to authorities.”

That was partially true, without being the whole truth.

“There are people who say you knew where Miller was all along,” said Harley. “That you helped him get away and stay hidden.”

She bristled at that, shifted in her seat. “That’s not true. Anyway, this podcast isn’t about Miller Crane, is it?”

“No,” he said, flashing her an apologetic grin. “Maybe next season?”

“I hope not,” she said. “The truth is all out there now. Miller is in jail. He’s confessed and is awaiting sentencing. He’s working on making amends.”

“And what about you? How will he make amends to you?”

“All I want is for my kids to heal, to find a way to forgive their father if they can, to love him in spite of his flaws. He is a man who did bad things, but he loves his children. That’s…something. And that’s all I can say about this.”

He gave her an assenting nod.

“So let’s start at the beginning,” he said. “Tell me when you first decided to apply for the hide and seek challenge.”

Adele started at the beginning and ended at the collapse of Enchantments. By the time they’d finished talking, more than two hours had passed. It was healing to tell the story, to relive that day and night, to take it all apart, question it, analyze it.

When she was done, she felt better than she had in months.

How are you doing with it?Cody had texted her last night.

Moving through it, she’d answered.You?

One day at a time.

Exactly.

Can I see you again?

I’d like that.

“Lives were lost on Falcão Island,” said Harley. “Alex Tang’s body was found washed up on Falcão Island’s north shore. Gustavo Bello did not make it out of the building before Enchantments fell; he is presumed dead. According to island officials, the site remains unstable and recovery efforts have faltered. His body has not been recovered.”

How close she had been to meeting the same fate, leaving her kids forever. That sudden wash of sadness, the tingle of dread, the hallmarks of trauma’s aftermath made themselves known, and Adele felt heat come up her throat. She breathed through it.

“It’s a tragedy,” she managed. He gave her a moment to collect herself.

“Let’s talk about Chloe Miranda and Hector Cruz. They claim that they were on a year-long mission to reveal all the fraud and corruption at Extreme. Chloe, with Hector’s help, staged her disappearance to draw scrutiny to the organization and expose all their wrongdoing.”

“Hmm,” said Adele.

She’d watched Chloe make the interview circuit, explaining herself, trying to paint herself as a hero and a crusader for good. Apparently, she spent the year on Falcão Island, squatting at Enchantments.Men like Maverick Dillan can’t keep getting away with hurting people and stealing. Good women, strong women have to expose them.

Adele hadn’t heard her talk about the pain she must have caused her family, or how they might heal now that she’d returned home. Maybe Chloe thought it was worth it. Or maybe she didn’t think about it at all. Adele couldn’t help but compare her to Miller, someone else who’d put his own interests before the people who loved him.

“Chloe faces charges now for blackmail, falsifying a crime, among other things,” said Harley. “Neither Chloe nor Hector will speak to me for this podcast. Attorneys I know think she could serve prison time.”

Violet told Adele that Chloe’s following had more than tripled, that online she was hailed as a hero and a female crusader against men who use and ghost women, who lie, steal, and cheat.“She’s like a feminist icon, now,” said Violet, quite sincerely. Adele wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Any of it. Butfeministwasn’t a word she’d use to describe Chloe Miranda.

“Meanwhile, Malinka Nicqui has used the scandal to come clean about her own business failings,” said Harley, looking down at notes in front of him. “She has admitted that she would not have been able to climb all Seven Summits without the help of her father, who died several years ago. She said it was you who helped her see that a lot of what she did as a kid was to please her dad. He wanted her to climb. So climb she did.”

Adele thought about Malinka a moment, what she wanted to say. She and Adele were in regular contact. A few weeks ago, Malinka had sent a box of clothes to Violet who practically lost her mind with joy.

---