Chapter 46
CHAPTER
FORTY-SIX
For a beat, Andi simply stood there, the weight of it all pressing in before the room caught up.
Then everything fractured into motion.
Questions overlapped. Chairs shifted. Plans began forming faster than she could fully absorb them.
Part of Andi wanted to slow it down—force everyone to breathe, to think. But another part welcomed the urgency.
Stillness was worse.
Matthew was already typing, fingers flying across his keyboard as he pulled up audio feeds and transcripts. “Okay. The podcast is Cold Truth, and the host goes by the name of ‘Evan Cross.’” He frowned at his screen. “Which appears to be a pseudonym.”
“Of course, it is.” Mariella rolled her eyes.
Matthew didn’t look up. “This is the first episode, and the host appears to have done a ton of advertising for it in order to get traction. There’s no social media footprint that predates the show.
No licensing info tied to a real person.
The hosting platform’s shielded through three different entities.
” He paused briefly, then added, “It’ll take time—but I can peel it back. ”
Something inside Andi tightened into resolve.
Matthew didn’t make promises lightly. If he said he could do it, he would.
“Do it.” Her jaw hardened as she said the words. “Whatever it takes. We need information on this guy.”
“Exactly.” Rupert was already scrolling through his phone. “We need to get ahead of this. If this narrative sticks, sponsors will panic. They’ll pull out. It could end the tour.”
Would that really be so terrible?
The thought slipped in uninvited, sharp and fleeting. Andi shoved it aside before it could take root.
“We need to control the messaging,” Mariella said. “Emphasize that we’re cooperating fully. That we’re trying to help. Possibly even being targeted—but that we’re not responsible for these crimes.”
Rupert grimaced. “I’ll draft a neutral statement. Press and sponsors. No accusations. No defensiveness.”
Andi nodded, only half listening now. Her mind had already moved ahead—past statements and platforms and damage control—to the man hiding behind a false name, watching from a distance, inserting himself into their work.
Andi’s phone buzzed in her hand.
Unknown number.
She motioned for everyone to be quiet.
Her stomach tightened as she answered. “This is Andi Slade.”
“Ms. Slade,” a male voice said. “This is Agent Alvarez with the FBI.”
The room seemed to tilt. “Yes?”
“We’d like for you and your colleagues with The Round Table to come down to our local field office. As soon as possible.”
“For what purpose?” she asked.
Alvarez hesitated. “We have questions regarding your whereabouts and involvement in one of our investigations.”
Involvement.
Andi closed her eyes. Had they heard the podcast? Were they putting the pieces together? “We’ve been cooperating with local law enforcement.”
“I’m aware. This is procedural. I’m sending two agents to pick you up. Be ready.”
Andi gave the team the update.
Before they could fully talk through all the implications, Ranger’s phone rang. He answered it and pressed his cell to his ear.
“Yeah, I know it’s late. I need details. Off the record if possible.” He paused, listening. “Cause of death. Method. Anything.”
They all heard his words and exchanged a look.
He stepped outside the room to continue the call. That had to be his friend with the medical examiner’s office.
When Ranger was out of earshot, they all turned toward each other.
“I’m not liking this,” Matthew whispered. “This other podcast episode is already trending.”
Andi’s heart pounded as the threads tightened around them from every direction—police scrutiny, public suspicion, a killer who was no longer content to stay in the shadows.
This wasn’t just a hunt anymore.
It was a squeeze.
Andi had the sinking realization that whoever was behind this had planned for every possible move they might make next.
Including this one.