Carla Reyes
Chapter 07 - Carla Reyes
Carla Reyes agreed to meet the following day, at a quiet coffee shop off base, her own composure carefully controlled in the specific way Evelyn recognized immediately from years spent supporting families through the worst days of their lives.
"I want to apologize," Evelyn said, before Carla had even fully settled into her chair. "I had no idea my husband was doing this. I understand that doesn't undo what he took from you, but I need you to hear it directly from me."
Carla studied her for a long moment, grief and something considerably more complicated moving across her face.
"He came to my husband's memorial," Carla said quietly. "Told me he served alongside you, that you'd asked him to check in on me, make sure I was being taken care of financially after everything. I believed him completely. Why wouldn't I? You're a decorated colonel. I'd read about you in the base newspaper."
Evelyn felt each word land like a physical blow, understanding now the specific, calculated cruelty of exactly how Ryan had chosen his targets, using grief and trust in the military community's own reputation for taking care of its own.
"I gave him my husband's entire death benefit," Carla continued, tears finally falling. "Four hundred and twelve thousand dollars. He promised it would triple within five years, guaranteed, through some veteran-focused investment fund I never fully understood but trusted because of who introduced it to me."
"I never asked him to contact you," Evelyn said. "I never even knew you existed until yesterday. I want you to understand that completely, even though I understand it doesn't return a single dollar of what he took."
"I believe you," Carla said, studying Evelyn's face carefully. "I've followed your career for years, actually, since before any of this happened. I don't think the woman I've read about is capable of what your husband did."
Evelyn felt a specific, fragile gratitude at that assessment, though it did nothing to ease the enormous guilt sitting heavy in her chest regardless.
"What can I do," Evelyn asked. "To help make this right, as much as it's possible to make right."
"I don't know yet," Carla admitted. "I'm still deciding what closure even looks like, given how much was taken. I appreciate you sitting across from me today, though. Most people in your position would have hidden behind lawyers and let their attorney handle every uncomfortable conversation."
"I don't intend to hide from any of this," Evelyn said. "Whatever consequences come from my husband's actions, I want to face them directly, alongside every family he hurt."
Carla nodded slowly, something shifting in her expression, not quite forgiveness, but a specific, cautious respect that Evelyn understood she would need to earn considerably further before it developed into anything more substantial.
May you like
"There are others," Carla said. "I've connected with several through an online support group that formed once word started spreading about the investigation. I think they'd want to hear from you too, eventually, once you're ready."
"I'll be ready," Evelyn said. "As soon as you and the others feel it's the right time. I owe every single one of you that much, at minimum."
