“Hi, Charlie.”
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Frank shook his head. “Sophie’s leaving early. She stormed out of her brother’s house after he tried to talk to her and took an Uber straight to the airport.”
Charlie whistled low. “That’s sooner than I expected. But not surprising. That talk was kind of a Hail Mary, right?”
“Right,” Frank said. “Chad did his best but she wasn’t having it.”
Essie leaned forward, her voice thin. “We’re pretty sure she’s headed back to Miami on the four o’clock flight.”
“I’ll be watching for her,” Charlie said, calm but matter-of-fact. “I’m already surveilling the condo, so I can let you know when she arrives. Should be interesting. Anything else new?”
Essie pressed a hand to her chest. She didn’t know why Charlie thought Sophie’s arrival would be interesting, but she trusted him.
Frank rubbed her back gently, his voice steady but strained. “Charlie, the best I can tell you is Sophie’s not herself. Any news on Ryan?”
Charlie exhaled, and the sound sent a chill up Essie’s spine. “Funny you should ask. I was planning to call you tonight anyway. Things with Ryan are…developing.”
Essie stiffened.
“Developing how?” Frank asked.
“He’s been busy,” Charlie said. “Too busy. Spent yesterday meeting with a couple of local influencers—and one talent agent firm. As best I can tell, he’s trying to pitch them on a show idea starring him and Sophie.”
Essie’s stomach dropped. “A show?” That would only make things worse for her and Frank. And Sophie would think she’d really hit it big. The chances of reconciling then would be gone.
“Mm-hmm,” Charlie continued. “He’s looking for exposure. Money. Sponsors. If my lip-reading is correct, he’s been bragging that Sophie ‘owes him big’ and that she’s gonna be his ticket.”
Frank muttered something under his breath. Essie felt nauseous.
Charlie went on. “He doesn’t think she’s coming home for another day or two, right? But if she shows up early like this, well.” His tone shifted, sharpening. “That might finally give me the confirmation we need.”
Essie swallowed, voice trembling. “Confirmation of what?”
“That he’s got more going on than Sophie knows.” A pause. “And that she’s in deeper trouble than she realizes.”
Frank’s hand tightened around Essie’s. “Charlie, what do you want us to do?”
“Nothing yet,” Charlie said. “Let her get home. Let him slip up when he doesn’t expect her. I’m watching Ryan. If something breaks tonight, you’ll be the first to know.”
Essie closed her eyes, her heart pounding. “Please keep her safe.”
Charlie’s tone softened. “I think she’ll be fine but if anything changes, I’ll call the police. But I think this is going to be exactly what needs to happen. Sophie coming home early?” He let a wry note enter his voice. “That might be the thing that blows Ryan’s little operation wide open.”
The call ended, but the weight of it lingered in the room.
Essie turned into Frank’s shoulder as he wrapped both arms around her, holding her firmly, protectively, as though he could keep the whole world from cracking open beneath them.
“Whatever happens,” Frank murmured, “we’ll face it together.”
Essie nodded, but her eyes were fixed on the phone, sitting silent and still on the table—the messenger of news she wasn’t sure she was ready to hear.
Chapter Thirty-Six
The plane hummed softly beneath them as it cut through the late-afternoon sky, golden light angling across the cabin. They’d be back in Florida in a matter of hours. Paige glanced out the window at the expanse of blue and endless clouds, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the night before.
Andrew’s beaming grin. Nicole’s emotional happy tears. Ken and Joann hugging Graham like he’d been family for decades. The cake showing off its bright blue center after being cut in half.
