Page 39 of Reconciling the Consequences

She was still in her pj’s, so she threw on a pair of jean shorts and a bra with a black tank top, thankful that she had showered the night before with Derrick’s help. He’d even put her hair up in a ponytail for her, since she still struggled to do so while down a hand. She brushed some mascara over her lashes and called it good. She still hadn’t been able to master eyeliner with her left hand.

She was heading back downstairs when Kevin ran through the front door. He was dressed in a safety-green Taylor Construction T-shirt and blue jeans. “Quick, change your shirt! I’ll be in the truck,” she called to him as she padded down the stairs.

He flew past her up the stairs, not stopping to say hi.

She grabbed her phone and laptop off the dining room table and headed out the door, slipping her feet into flip-flops as she moved. Kara froze when she saw the fucking Taylor Construction signage on the side of the truck. It stood out like a blazing red flag. They wouldn’t be able to take the work truck—it would be too obvious.

She headed back inside just as Kevin was coming through the door. “We need to take my SUV,” she told him.

He nodded and held up the keys, already a step ahead of her.

She grinned brightly and headed for the garage.

“What’s going on?” Kevin asked once they climbed into her MKX. It was weird sitting in the passenger seat of her own car, but she was slowly getting used to her boys driving her around.

“Six weeks ago, I hired a forensic accounting firm to look into Carmichael and Associates’ accounts and Case Holdings. I wanted a thorough audit of all our records, including all of our billables to clients,” Kara explained, half turning to him as he backed down the driveway.

“Six weeks ago? So before everything?” Kevin asked, slowly pulling out onto the street and putting the car in drive.

She nodded. “Yes. I ordered the audit the same time I called back all those boxes. The financial firm I hired is owned by a friend I went to college with. I told her how secretive I needed the findings to be kept, if she did in fact find anything. She emailed me today.”

Kevin’s eyes shot to hers, his mouth open. “Is that safe?”

Kara nodded, but Kevin had already turned back to the road. He was quickly driving them down the main street and toward the interstate. “Yes. It was a vague email about not having caught up in a while. She mentioned a bunch of shit from college and happy hour at our old hangout—she said to meet her there today.”

“Hence the cloak and dagger.” Kevin nodded. “Why didn’t she just text your phone?”

Kara stared down at her phone in confusion. She hadn’t thought about that before. When she did, her mouth dropped open in shock. She quickly powered it off and popped out the SIM card. “I, uh, I have a bad feeling, Kevin.”

Kevin’s hand immediately came over the center console and grabbed hers. He laced their fingers together and brought her hand up to his lips, kissing the back while he kept his eyes on the road. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, baby.”

She smiled faintly and squeezed his hand. “Know any tech geniuses?” she joked.

He smirked before his smile slid off his face and dawning realization spread over his face. “I do actually. My brother Jack.”

Kara’s heart sped up and a grin broke over her face. “Would he help?”

“Absolutely,” Kevin said vehemently.

The hole-in-the-wall bar that they pulled up to in the small town of Rockwell, Illinois, didn’t even have a sign out front with the name of the place. The locals knew it as The Squirrel Cage.

Kara walked in with a smile on her face. She left her cell phone and laptop in the car, hidden under the seat. Kevin had made sure to park in clear view of the window. He followed her in, his hand sliding to her lower back as they walked through the door.

She found Stephanie sitting in the back corner booth, their usual spot. Her back was to the door. Kara and Kevin slid into the booth across from her, and she startled.

“Girl, never leave your back to the door like that,” Kara scolded.

Stephanie jumped and looked up from her phone, clearly caught unaware. “Shit girl.” She hissed, clutching her chest. Her auburn hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail that accented her high cheekbones. Her bangs were cut on an angle and swept away from her face. She wore a pair of rectangular black-rimmed glasses that framed her face and gave her a sexy-librarian vibe. Her green eyes were vibrant and full of energy as she swept her startled gaze over Kara and Kevin.

Kara raised her eyebrow at her pointedly.

“Who’s this?” Stephanie asked, a slow grin pulling across her lips as she took in Kevin.

Kara laughed and shook her head. “Stephanie, meet Kevin Adams, my boyfriend,” she introduced. “Kevin, meet Stephanie Stonewall, one of my very dear friends from our days at Northern Illinois University.”

“Before she went all Ivy League on me.” Stephanie smirked.

Kara grinned and shrugged.

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