Page 163 of Wicked Brutal

Becca stares at it. “So every time one of them falls—“

“Roman checks his escape hatch,” Mom finishes.

Arthur turns his laptop. “And that’s where this stops being only about Roman.”

ASHBOURNE FOUNDATION.

Clifford closes his eyes briefly. Louise reaches for his hand. Danny stares at the screen. “Daisy gave them Ashbourne.”

“Yes.” Arthur lets that settle before continuing. “At the time, it was one name among many. And Ashbourne isn’t some underground organization. It’s a legitimate philanthropic foundation.”

Saoirse nods slowly. “I’ve seen them at donor events.”

“What do they do?” Penny asks.

“Everything wealthy foundations like to do,” Arthur says. “Education. Women’s initiatives. International programs. Arts. Medical philanthropy. Scholarships.”

“Meaning they touch thousands of people,” Callum says.

“Yes.”

“So seeing their name isn’t proof of anything.”

“No.” Arthur taps the screen. “But seeing it repeatedly is enough to make me start asking why.”

I look at Ally’s paperwork. “Sainte-Catherine.”

“Yes.” Arthur pulls up another document. “Roman’s initial inquiry was facilitated through an educational placement service with funding ties to Ashbourne." He pulls another folder toward himself. “I searched for other placement records connected to the same service.”

Theodore’s attention sharpens. “What did you find?”

Arthur looks at Becca. “Rebecca Carney.”

Theodore goes completely still. Arthur turns the page toward them. “Hartley initiated a placement inquiry for you.”

Theodore’s chair shifts back. Not violently. But enough. “I never authorized that.”

Katya’s hand finds his arm.

Arthur nods. “I don’t see your authorization anywhere.”

Becca doesn’t look away from Arthur. “When?”

He turns the document toward her.

OCTOBER 18, 2025.

For several seconds, Becca says nothing. Neither does anyone else. I look at Ally’s page again. October nineteenth. Then Becca’s. October eighteenth.

One fucking day.

Theodore looks like somebody hit him. “Was it completed?”

“No.” Arthur looks at the screen. “And then I found a third.”

Something about his expression makes Iz finally sit upright. “A third what?”

“Student.” Arthur pauses. “Isabella Whelan.”