When I step out of the bathroom, Danny, Sun, and Jake are arguing. Tony leans against one of the walls, shoulders hunched, while Javier stands by the group, rubbing his chin and listening to the argument.
"What's wrong?" I ask as I step into their circle.
Jake's face is flushed as if he's really upset. "Danny won't take us to the Philippines."
"It's too risky," Danny says. "You just saw what happened back there. Has it not occurred to you that we almost died? No amount of money is worth losing your life over. I know you want to find the money for your dad and clear his name, but this is where I draw the line. These people obviously want you to stay out of their business and we are no match for them."
"Maybe you're right," I say. "But look what we've done. We have gotten further than the feds back home."
"That's because they're doing it legally." Danny holds his hands up in surrender. "Listen. I was all with you. Trust me. But it's been more than forty-eight hours since your dad and the money went missing. And the trail is ice cold. I don't know what you want to do in the Philippines, but I'm guessing more trouble."
"I can't give up," I say. "I won't."
"You are free to do whatever you want," Danny says. "But Sun, if you don't come back with me, I'm telling Mother. You know how she is."
We all look over at Tony. He shrugs and then plugs in one earbud, looking at the crowds of people lining up to come through security.
"And your parents?" Danny looks at Jake and me. "Are you sure they would be cool with this trip to the Philippines knowing our taxi was just bombed?"
He's got a point. Mom would one hundred percent have a heart attack. Not that I'm going to tell him that. So I say, "What you've done for me, Danny, bringing us to Bangladesh, it's more than I can ever thank you for. I'm indebted to you."
I suck in a deep breath, hating the idea that I'm going to have to leave my friends because the reality is I'm not sure I can continue on my own, but I can't give up. "Actually, I'm indebted to all of you. Thank you for being here with me through this, but Danny is right. It's too dangerous. I can't ask you to continue."
"This was always our choice," Javier says. "You never forced us."
"I think we all know this is where our paths split." I try to smile at them, to show them I'm okay with the separation. "I'm going to continue on to the Philippines. I've got MaxLife's credit card."
"It's only a matter of time before the feds freeze all of MaxLife's accounts," Danny points out.
Sun crosses her arm. "Aria, you don't even know for sure if that resort is the right lead."
"You're right, Sun. But I have to try. I could never live with myself otherwise."
"I don't like it," Sun says.
"I'm going with you," Jake jumps in. "I don't have anything to my name other than my travel documents and wallet, but that doesn't matter."
"I'm going, too," Javier says and picks up the Dreamscape equipment bag as if it's decided. "I'm seeing this to the end. Dr. Hale gave me back my life. I'm going to make sure I do the same for him."
Tony shuffles over to me and wraps me in a hug. "I wish I were better cut out for this kind of thing. But this stuff is way out of my league. Besides, I got to get home. Pronto."
"I'm glad." I hug him back. "It's better this way. Safer."
And then our team parts ways. One group returning to the United States, the other to the Philippines. As I stand at ticketing, I watch Sun, Tony, and Danny head through security.
I hope I made the right choice.