Chapter 11 - Sarah's Second Secret.
Sarah did not run.
That was the only reason Daniel did not immediately restrain her.
She stood on Blackthorn Manor’s driveway beneath flashing emergency lights while everyone stared.
“I didn’t set that fire.”
Elias’s voice remained neutral.
“Then explain why Evan named you.”
Sarah looked at the ambulance.
“I can’t.”
Marcus laughed.
“Convenient.”
Elena turned on him.
“You don’t get to enjoy this.”
His smile disappeared.
Sarah wrapped her arms around herself.
“I met Evan twice.”
“When?” Elena asked.
“The first time was three years ago.”
“Before Celeste hired you?”
Sarah nodded.
Elena felt another layer of betrayal open.
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because he made me promise.”
Marcus scoffed.
“Of course.”
Sarah looked at Elena.
“Evan was trying to stop Celeste.”
That surprised everyone.
“He knew she wanted revenge on Elias.”
“He also knew Nolan was using her anger.”
Elias asked, “Why recruit you?”
“He didn’t.”
Sarah took a breath.
“I was dating him.”
Elena stared.
Sarah continued.
“It lasted six months.”
“He never told me his real last name until the end.”
“When he did, he asked me to stay away from Celeste.”
“Then Celeste approached me separately.”
Elena remembered Sarah saying she had once worked for Celeste.
Now that confession had a new meaning.
“You accepted her offer.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Evan asked me to.”
Marcus laughed again.
“So you were spying on the spy.”
Sarah looked exhausted.
“I was trying to learn what Celeste planned.”
“Did Evan know you were in the house tonight?” Elias asked.
Sarah hesitated.
“Yes.”
“Did you tell him about the raid?”
“No.”
“Did you tell him about the Mercer ledger?”
Sarah did not answer quickly enough.
Elias noticed.
“So he knew.”
“He knew it existed.”
Elena closed her eyes briefly.
Every secret seemed to contain another secret.
“Where is Evan’s evidence?”
Sarah looked toward the burning basement.
“That’s what he was trying to get.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“You led him into my house.”
Sarah glared at him.
“Your house contained records proving people were framed for federal crimes.”
Marcus stopped.
Elias’s eyes narrowed.
“Framed?”
Sarah nodded.
“Nolan used the network to create false beneficial owners.”
“Elena wasn’t the first.”
The implications were enormous.
“How many?” Elena asked.
“I don’t know.”
Sarah looked toward the ambulance.
“Evan said at least nine.”
A federal investigator approached carrying a plastic evidence pouch.
Inside was a small metal key taken from Evan’s pocket.
A number had been engraved into it.
314.
Sarah recognized it.
“Union Station.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Locker?”
She nodded.
Elias turned to the agents.
“Secure it.”
Sarah reached for Elena’s hand but stopped before touching her.
“I know you have no reason to trust me.”
Elena’s expression remained hard.
“You’re right.”
“I’m sorry.”
“So am I.”
The words hurt Sarah.
Elena continued.
“But the truth is still useful even when it comes from someone who lied.”
Sarah nodded.
An agent’s phone rang.
The Union Station team had reached locker 314.
It contained a flash drive and a sealed envelope addressed to Elena.
Not Elias.
Not federal investigators.
Elena.
The envelope was photographed before being opened.
Inside was a single handwritten page from Evan.
Elena read the first sentence on the agent’s screen.
IF YOU ARE READING THIS, CELESTE HAS ALREADY REALIZED THAT MARCUS WAS NEVER HER PARTNER.
May you like
The next line made Elena stop breathing.
HE WAS ALWAYS HER TARGET TOO.
