IT HAD BEEN over a week since I’d seen my Charli asleep in our bed. Now I was a voyeur, watching from afar, through an electronic feed from Isaac’s phone.

With everything in me I wanted to be there, to be sure she’d arrive and that the plan had a chance of working. Charli didn’t know what was in store: it was too risky. For this to work, she needed to appear and be completely unaware.

From the limited view I could see the tea room. From Isaac’s description, the restaurant seemed to be the epitome of girly. It would never survive in Brooklyn and maybe not even in Rye. From the lace tablecloths and tiny teacups to the crystal chandeliers and dainty cakes, I could list a thousand reasons why it was not my kind of place.

There was one reason that it was, and according to Isaac she’d just entered.

He whispered his commentary as I waited across town.

“She’s with two others. I don’t see her security. It seems as though you were right. As long as she’s with Mrs. Spencer, she doesn’t have her direct shadows.”

“Good,” I replied. “Isaac, my man, I kind of hate you right now.”

“Because I get to drink tea out of a dollhouse-sized cup?”

“That, and you’re seeing her.”

“Boss, if all goes well, so will you. Soon.”

“Tell me what you see.”

“They’re sitting. She’s… she’s…”

“What?”

“Smiling and talking. I don’t know her that well, but it doesn’t seem genuine. Not like I’ve seen her with you.” He paused. “Not even like I’ve seen her alone. She seems tense, like she’s nervous. Are you sure she doesn’t know?”

“How the hell could I have told her?”

“Good point. They’re ordering something and Mrs. Spencer is doing most of the talking.”

“Is it just the two of them?”

“No. Chelsea Moore is with them.”

I wanted to know more—what is she wearing, was her hair up or down—but the things running through my thoughts seemed trivial. I’d never voice them to Oren, but nothing was trivial when it came to my Charli.

“Sir, more coffee?” the waitress’s voice transcended the phone.

I waited for Isaac to answer and said, “I thought you were drinking tea?”

“I had to man up somewhere. This setting you have me in is seriously threatening my man card.”

“Get her to me and your man card will stay valid.”

“Waiting.”

As silence filled our conversation, I thought about why Charli was there—about her mother.

Since Deloris had infiltrated Magnolia Wood’s system, she’d been following Charli’s mother’s medical records and notations. Mrs. Fitzgerald had recently regained consciousness, though she was still heavily medicated. The doctor believed the worst of the withdrawal symptoms were over. However, she wasn’t able to keep down any food or drink. Instead they had her on intravenous fluids and nutrients.

The doctor Deloris had consulted asked for Mrs. Fitzgerald’s previous records. Why they hadn’t been sent in their entirety to Magnolia Woods didn’t make sense. It also didn’t matter. Mrs. Fitzgerald’s regular doctor was online. It was only a matter of minutes before Deloris had everything. Currently, our consulting physician was mulling through years of information.

Oren was determined that we would have everything in place that she needed by tomorrow. He even had a room in Rye converted to a makeshift hospital room, a full-time nurse hired, and a doctor on standby. He believed an actual hospital was too risky, and I had to agree.

It seemed that Fitzgerald had Charli on constant surveillance, but not her mother, not Adelaide. Other than the regular security at Magnolia Woods, there was nothing extra. No personal guards. No additional cameras. No doubt, Alton Fitzgerald didn’t feel that his wife’s future was a concern, perhaps other than to keep her as bait for Charli.

Demetri Enterprises had a reputable and well-established security company under our umbrella. It had been in operation for over fifteen years. With their help and Deloris’s hacking skills, the cameras at Magnolia Woods could be easily manipulated. Put on a loop, a determined amount of time could pass without anyone knowing that Mrs. Fitzgerald had been taken.

Our biggest concern was transport. However, now that she was conscious, the plan was falling into place.

Charli’s voice penetrated the din of muted chaos in Isaac’s background. I didn’t think Isaac was that close to her, yet I heard a simple sound and immediately knew it was her. My heart stopped. Not literally, but I wanted more. More than just her tone. I wanted words and moans. I wanted it all.

Just as I thought I might not make it another minute, Isaac spoke, “Sir, it’s happening. A hostess just brought Patrick and an older woman to the table.”

“His mother,” I confirmed.

“Miss Collins seems very happy to see her cousin.”

“Good.” The word came out on a sigh. That was what we wanted, needed, for her to be genuinely surprised by Patrick’s early arrival.

I imagined Charli jumping up and hugging him.

I didn’t only hate Isaac, but suddenly, Patrick was on my list.

“Sir, I’m going to pay and leave. Patrick saw me and nodded. All plans seem to be progressing on schedule.”

“I hope you’re right. You’re sure you don’t see her security?”

“Not inside the restaurant.”

“Thank you, Isaac. Since you drank coffee and not tea, I believe your man card is safe.”

“Thank you, sir.”

The line went dead.

Now all I could do was wait here in this Savannah hotel suite.

We hadn’t flown to Savannah, as would have made sense. Instead we flew to Macon and drove two and a half hours to Savannah. Our hotel was reserved under a fictitious name and we were only using cash. While I doubted Charli’s stepfather’s ability to know everything that was happening in his town, I wasn’t willing to jeopardize the future of our plan.

Even having Isaac at the restaurant was a risk, but we needed visual confirmation, both that Charli and Patrick had arrived and for Patrick, that Isaac was ready with the next step.