Yvonne frantically tried to think of a solution when a call came in from Seth. She answered immediately. "Seth, what''s the situation?"


    "I''ve looked into it. It''s not good. The fact that it was all broadcast live has made it go viral. It''s impossible to get her out quietly. The higher-ups are already aware of


    it."


    Yvonne sank onto the sofa. "What are the police saying?"


    "I haven''t been able to see her yet, so I don''t have the details."


    "I see."


    After hanging up, Yvonne decided she had to go to the police station herself. She needed to speak with Lana and make sure she didn''t say anything foolish.


    Lana was a nervous wreck. It was the first time she had ever been in a police station. Yvonne called in a favor with a contact, Forrest, who managed to arrange a brief meeting. The moment Lana saw her, she begged Yvonne to get her out.


    "It''splicated," Yvonne said. "You might have to stay here for a while. Once things quiet down, I''ll find a way."


    Lana''s face went pale. "Am I going to jail?"


    "No. Trust me, I will get you out," Yvonne said, her eyes boring into Lana''s. "But you cannot, under any circumstances, confess to anything. If you do, my hands will be tied."


    Lana,pletely lost, clung to Yvonne''s words. She trusted that Yvonne would find a way. "I understand," she promised.


    After leaving the station, Yvonne called the man who had arranged the idents. "What kind of sloppy work was that? How did you get caught? You''ve dragged my sister into this mess."


    "We don''t know what happened," the man snarled. "The driver just cracked and confessed. Since Lana was the contact, the police traced it back to her."


    "So what do we do now?"


    "At this point, you either have the


    power


    Bet


    pull her out, or you beg for


    ou try to settle it get them


    the charges


    Begging for mercy meant going to the victim. Under normal circumstances, it


    would be an option. But begging Noreen...


    Yvonne gritted her teeth.


    ***


    The news spread quickly, reaching even Northcrest. Sanford, after making his inquiries, called Henry with the results. "It''s not looking good. The authores are watching this case closely. It will have to go by the book."


    they


    In other words, she couldn''t be pulled out.


    Henry, already lost in his own turmoil, said nothing.


    "Are you sure she''s rted to the person who helped our family?" Sanford pressed.


    After a long silence, Henry replied, "I''m not sure." It had all been spection on his part.


    Before he could process anything further, Bianca called, inviting him to a celebration dinner that evening. It had been nned long in advance, meant to celebrate the ses of the roadshow. Now, it was a crisis management event. The more precarious the situation, the more important it was to project an image of calm and control.


    For the first time, Henry turned Bianca down.


    "I''m heading back to Northcrest," he said.