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I could hear the determination in her voice, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for her courage. But I also worried for their safety, knowing they chose to go off alone. "Are the other co-owners aware?"
"Yes. Brad has his laptop. He plans to work on the new app while we're hiding."
"Get a burner phone. I'll do the same and forward you the number as soon as possible. The rest of us are supposed to go to Casa Palacious. FBI's orders!"
"So, what's your plan now?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Courtney hesitated for a moment before answering. "Brad and I are on our way to grab his camping equipment. We're heading for a campground near Palm Springs. It's secluded, and we should be able to lay low there for a while. We can't risk being caught since the news got out somehow that we are working on the app."
"Yeah, someone told Carter. He knows."
"Well, I suspect he still has access to our servers... due to the ongoing investigations."
We ended our conversation as I grabbed some essentials and prepared to leave with the FBI. I was pissed, saddened, and even grateful to a point that the nightmare plaguing Rosedale might be coming to an end. On the one hand, I was glad that Courtney and Brad had managed to evade protective custody, allowing them to continue working on the project so we could market it. But on the other hand, I feared for their safety, knowing that they were putting themselves at risk by going off the grid.
Before I locked my house and pulled my Lexus inside the tiny garage, I grabbed a picture of Amy, Ava, and me that Margaret took on the day she delivered Ava here and slipped it in my pocket.
The ride to Casa Palacious was a blur, my mind bouncing between worry for Courtney and Brad and the gnawing ache to be with Amy and Ava. As the black sedan pulled up to the estate, the imposing iron gates swung open, revealing the winding driveway that led to Guy's sprawling mansion. Of course, I'd been here many times for work and pleasure, but today it felt like a different world, a fortress designed to keep the dark forces at bay.
I was met at the entrance by Guy whose face was ashen. Daniel and Ryder were already rummaging through the wine cooler, and Chase was staring out the window, all sporting their unique blend of fear, frustration, and suspicion. They had been abruptly yanked from their normal lives too, and their families whisked away to safe houses. Now we were here, trapped in Guy's gilded cage, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"How are you holding up, Mitch?" Guy wondered, his eyes blazing with a fix of sorrow and fear. "Do you know where Amy is? I'm thinking everyone else must be near her location… at least, that's what Agent Downing told me."
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I don't know, Guy. But we're here now, and we have to deal with it. The FBI is taking this seriously, finally!”
Guy glanced over his shoulder at the agent standing on the back porch. "Hey, listen up! Let's meet in my office. It's soundproof."
I nodded. "And turn off your phones!"
As we gathered in the opulent office to discuss our next move, reaching for a ray of hope, I jammed my hand into my pocket to touch the photo of Amy, Ava, and me. Just as we settled into our seats, I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Despite the FBI's assurances, it felt like we were sitting ducks, vulnerable to an unseen enemy. I took a deep breath and looked around at my partners, trying to find solace in our collective strength.
"Alright, first things first," Guy began, his voice laced with determination. "Mitch, you mentioned burner phones. We need to find a way to get them without tipping off the FBI. Any ideas?"
I thought for a moment and then replied, "We could ask one of our employees or friends who aren't in protective custody to pick them up for us. They can leave them somewhere discreet for us to collect."
Guy smirked. "You've got to be kidding me. They are all either in safe houses or are scared out of their minds."
Ryder chimed in, "Yeah, and you know the FBI will be monitoring everything we do. They would find out and probably fine us or something. Sometimes I wonder whose side they are really on."
Daniel added, "Speaking of trust, how do we know that Courtney and Brad are safe? They're out there on their own, and we can't protect them."
I cleared my throat and motioned for everyone to come closer so they could hear my idea. "Chase, I noticed a while back at your last party that an unpaved road next to your house looked like it when into Guy’s vineyard."
"Yes, it's new. It's for my farming equipment. It leads out to a side road. Guy rubbed his hands together with a sly grin, his voice low and conspiratorial. "I don't think even our regular security detail has figured out the trail leads off the property. They believe it stops at the shed where I store the equipment."
I listened, considering. "You've got a solid reason for taking off on your ATV. Do you think the FBI is aware that Chase's house is on your estate?"
Chase snorted, nodding. "Oh, they know, alright. But who cares? Guy can tell them he's gotta inspect the vineyard's irrigation. I'll toss him the keys to my Escalade. It has 4-wheel drive and can handle the sand path with no problem."
Ryder scratched his chin, impressed. "Clever plan. But when do we make a move?"
"Tonight," I declared, my voice resolute. Their gazes snapped at me in surprise, but I just shrugged.
The others exchanged glances, sensing the pressing need for haste. "Let's do it," Guy agreed. He smirked, glancing at his watch. "How about... seven o'clock? Night'll have fallen by then, and besides, the sooner we can connect with Brad and Courtney, the better." Guy ran his hand down his face. "On second thought, I think it's best if Mitch tags along. Just in case we hit a snag."
A few glasses of wine and some reheated leftovers from Guy's freezer later, the two of us were off. The thrill of our escapade hung thick in the air as we navigated the four-wheeler toward Chase's abode. Our minds buzzed with anticipation, already plotting our covert trip to Walmart to snag a phone for each of us.
Climbing back on the four-wheeler, we made our way back to the main house, eager to share our successful escapade with the rest of the group. Yet, when we when inside, we were met with long faces. Agent Downing was sitting on the couch with his feet propped up on Guy's antique coffee table. I sucked in a quick breath waiting for his interrogation to start about our little journey into town, but instead, he opened his briefcase and handed each of us a digital tablet to connect with our family members.
