Page 44 of Vicious Deception

“It can’t be somewhere public,” I say. We can’t be too careful. “But if she’s being followed—”

“I know.”

“Can’t we just talk over the phone?”

“If she freaks out, we need to be able to contain her reaction.”

I blink.Contain her reaction? What the fuck is that supposed to mean?“You’re not talking about killing her, are you?”

“What? Jesus, Wren. No! I’m not killing Oliver’s mother.”

“Okay,” I say slowly. “Then what doescontaining hermean?”

“Potential . . .” Finn grimaces. “Potential kidnapping?”

“Got it. Killing Meredith is off the table, but deeply traumatizing her is still okay.” My tone is dry as I level him with an annoyed glare.

“Listen, I never said I was perfect, okay? But if she doesn’t believe your cover story and she ends up going to the authorities, we’re all in deep shit, you understand? That adds a level of complications that I’m not sure we can get out of. We have to tread carefully.”

“I suppose the guys told me she’ll do anything for her kids.”

“Exactly. And I don’t want to deal with babysitting her if she decides to take matters into her own hands.”

“Okay. So I tell her the guys went on a last-minute business trip. That’s normal enough, right?”

“And why wouldn’t he be answering his phone?”

“He lost it?”

Finn shakes his head. “She’s close with Elliot and Rhett, too. There has to be a reason why they’veallstopped contacting her suddenly. One that doesn’t set off any alarm bells in her head.”

“Or . . . ?”

“Or we’ll have to contain her.”

“Right,” I mutter. I don’t like that option. “What about Maria?”

“Let’s just deal with Meredith first. We can set up a meeting. Does she like hiking?”

“How am I supposed to know?!”

“She likes hiking now.” He taps away at the tablet before angling the screen toward me. He has a park pulled up. “You’ll tell her to meet you here on Trail B.”

“Why there?”

“Because we can get to it through the woods out back. If anyone’s watching her or tracking her car, it’ll look like she went on a hike by herself and then went home. Where’s the phone I gave you?”

“I have it here.” Careful not to spill my coffee, I fish it from my pocket.

“Got it.” He’s staring at his tablet again, frowning. “Okay, looks like she’s about to leave. Call her now.”

After exchanging a worried glance with Aubrey, I dial the phone number Finn gives me. Meredith picks up on the first ring.

“Hello?”

“Um . . . hi. Meredith, I—”

“Who is this?”