Page 79 of Shadow

Ripley opened a cooler and pulled out three beers and popped the lids on them before passing them out.

“I honestly don’t know. It’s just a hunch. But that case is one where I went by Ripley Matthews. Has she found anything yet?”

Peter shook his head. “Not everything. But she brought something to show you later. There’s more, and I’m helping her sort through files. We didn’t digitize everything you sent us back then. And the size of her archive is intimidating. We’re almost there, though.”

Ripley fought the urge to find Carrie and insist she show him what she brought.

This wasn’t a mission, he reminded himself. Tonight was about relaxing with Olivia and having an enjoyable visit with friends. Something as close to normal as possible. He would find the right opening to talk to Carrie.

“How are things with you and Olivia?” Michael asked as he closed the lid to the grill and picked up his beer. “She was pretty upset with you these last few years.”

Ripley nodded. “It’s true. I’m doing my best to make it up to her and show her I’ve changed, but she still isn’t convinced I’m out.”

“Areyouconvinced?”

He didn’t like the insinuation Michael was making, but it was a valid question.

“I think so. And even if I weren’t, the US government is sure. The only reason they’re stepping in now is because some of my cases are still pending trial. I imagine I’ll be sitting in a courtroom testifying a lot over the next couple of years. A hell of a lot different from what I’ve been doing, that’s for sure.”

Michael clapped him on the shoulder. “Peter transitioned out well enough.”

Ripley clinked his beer with Peter’s. “No thanks to my saving his ass more than once.”

“Let’s not even go there. We both got into a few pickles.”

It was true. The two had shared several close calls along with Gage and Reggie. His heart constricted at the thought of his old friend. Reggie died in a mission to save Peter after they took down Corbit Upwood.

“Anyone talked to Reggie’s sister lately?”

Peter dropped his head. “No. I feel terrible about that. But she didn’t have a lot of kind things to say last time I reached out, so I was giving her space. Then life happened, and I lost contact.”

Ripley shook his head. “Don’t feel guilty. It’s hard on all of us. I’m sure Gage has stayed in touch. He was always closest to Reggie. I’ll reach out now that I’m home. It’s hard to believe we’re coming up on five years since he’s been gone.”

In the house, Ripley heard laughter, and some of the sadness lifted. It was good that they all had lives. Reggie would have wanted it that way.

“We sure are lucky bastards,” Peter said when he caught Ripley’s gaze turning toward the sliding glass door.

Ripley clinked his beer with Peter’s, then Michael’s. “I’ll drink to that.”

The door opened, and Carrie stepped out.

“Hey sh…” he stopped when she glared at him and held up his hands. “Sorry. I’m trying.”

She laughed. “I thought I would slip out here while Olivia and Adara are distracted with baby pictures from Darci. I found the flash drive you sent me when you were undercover. It’s mostly all the old black budget documents, but there are a few pictures from the Doll House, so maybe it’s what you’re looking for. If not, I know I have all the printed materials somewhere, but as Peter can attest since he’s been helping me sort through it all, my archive from the last five years alone takes up an entire mini storage unit so it’s been an adventure. It has prompted me to hire someone to help me digitize everything, though.”

Ripley grinned. “Happy to help. I think I’m going to get my laptop and check this out right now.”

He stepped into the house and found Adara and Olivia sitting at the kitchen island with glasses of wine deep in conversation.

He was glad they were getting along so well.

Olivia looked up as he came in. “Hey, Daddy. Is everything OK?”

He smiled. “Fine, baby girl. I had Carrie find something for me, and I want to take a look while we wait for the food.”

He gave her shoulder a tender squeeze as he passed her and grabbed the laptop off the table then headed to the new couch in the living room.

Plugging the drive in, he opened it and began scrolling through, looking for image files.

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