Chapter 21
DAY 5
I was awake.
By 3 a.m., my eyes refused to close. When daylight comes, we'll hand Cole over to the NRI. The thought alone felt like betrayal, and though it stung, I pushed the feeling aside. I was biding my time, waiting.
With my family still asleep, I used the quiet to collect my thoughts for the day I was dreading. I decided nothing would surprise me today. I wouldn't react. I would just… endure.
At 6 a.m., my sister's alarm jolted her awake. She blinked when she saw me sitting up, alert.
"I'm fine. Trust me," I whispered, careful not to wake Jamie.
She sat up, eyes soft with concern. "I know. But you had me worried yesterday." She reached for my hand.
"Look… David really did help me become a better person, a better mom to Jamie. I won't forget that. It hurts every time I think of him, but I refuse to blame myself. I hope you won't either. Bad things happen, and he… he crossed paths with someone truly evil. I've decided to do better for myself. I can't always depend on someone else to make me good. That's what his death means to me. So go to work today. Hold your head up. Do your job. Jamie and I, we're okay."
Tears blurred my vision as I looked at my hands. "You don't know how much I needed to hear that," I choked out.
She smiled and squeezed my hand. "I do. And also, get ready. I'm setting you up on a blind date."
I groaned and rolled my eyes. "You trying to get rid of me already? I plan to be a thorn in your side for a while."
"It's still early," Jamie mumbled, rolling over. "Some of us have school."
We burst out laughing and let the moment dissolve into something warm and light.
I got ready. After freshening up and eating breakfast, I heard Russell's car horn. I grabbed the breakfast I'd packed for him and headed out.
I handed him the brown bag as I got into the car. He unwrapped the sandwich and took a bite, groaning with delight.
"Your sister should open a sandwich shop. I'll quit my job and help out."
"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, buckling in.
We drove in silence. I tried to brace myself for what was to come. In no time, we pulled into the station parking lot.
"You ready?" he asked.
I shook my head. I wasn't. Not even close. But I got out of the car anyway, each step toward the building feeling heavier than the last.
When we reached our office, I saw Sam, Carol, and Jake gathered near the door, watching something.
Inside, four men in suits were rummaging through our files and computers.
"What's going on?" I asked, stepping in.
"Cleanup," one of them said, not bothering to look at me.
Russell stormed past me and grabbed the man by the arm, his eyes dark and threatening.
"Drop it," he growled.
I scanned my team's faces anger, confusion, disbelief. We were all thinking the same thing: what the hell is this?
"I suggest you don't act irrationally," the first man said, standing to face Russell. "This is standard protocol before a handover. The Chief is aware. We're not touching anything unrelated to Nick Cole."
Russell didn't budge. The man eventually signaled his team to stop. They began to gather the files they'd already seized, preparing to leave.
I intercepted one and snatched the file from his hands.
Once they were out, Russell turned to us. "They'll be back. Strip out anything vital, files, computer data, shred, delete, burn it if you have to. If they think we know too much, they'll tail us for life."
No one waited for further instruction.
Sam went straight to the computer. That made me smile.
We were halfway through when the suits returned, yelling for us to stop. The Chief was just behind them, wearing a look that hovered between betrayal and disbelief. He shot me a warning glare. I just pointed to Russell.
"We barely had anything on Cole," Carol said smugly. "You'll make us sign NDAs anyway, so what's the fuss?"
Their leader looked at her, clearly annoyed. He adjusted his tie and stormed off toward the cells.
The Chief let out a long breath. "I don't know if I should be impressed or pissed. Good job, team. I'm starting to like you all especially you, Stacy."
I rolled my eyes. Great. Now he's trying to be friendly.
We followed the suited men to officially hand Cole over.
He sat on the floor of the holding cell, looking sick and exhausted. Russell took the keys from the officer, cuffed Cole, and guided him out.
As the handover document was signed, I noticed something, Cole looked pale, almost gray.
"I don't think he's feeling well," I said.
"Not your problem anymore," the boss snapped. "Let's go."
"At least check if he's fit for transfer," I insisted.
"He'll be fine," he said, waving me off.
I started to protest again, but Russell placed a firm hand on my shoulder, gently shaking his head.
Why did I care? I let it go.
We were walking behind them when Cole suddenly stopped and turned to me. His face was drained, his eyes bloodshot.
"Can I talk to Detective Stacy?" he asked, breathless.
I stepped forward without hesitation.
"I'm sorry… about David," he said, voice hoarse. "They're going to kill me."
Then they dragged him off.
Before I could process it, a scream tore through the air.
People rushed toward the source. I forced myself to move with the crowd and then I saw it.
Cole lay in a pool of blood, a bullet hole in his forehead.
I fell to my knees beside him. My body gave out. I couldn't move. I could only stare.
The suits loomed around, barely reacting. They weren't surprised. And Cole… he knew.
Paramedics swarmed the area. Someone lifted me off the ground, but I fought free and rushed back to his side. I lifted his shirt, fresh bruises and wounds covered his body. These weren't there two days ago.
One of the men averted his eyes and stepped away. Guilty.
Strong arms pulled me back again, and this time, I didn't resist.
I watched everything unfold, paramedics lifting his body, officers pushing people back, the metallic scent of blood thick in the air. All our work, all the pieces we were putting together… gone.
Russell placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.
I looked up at him through tears, and he just nodded, his own face grim.
Then I saw Sam. He wasn't looking at the scene, he was staring at a building across the street. He didn't blink. He nodded to himself, deep in thought. Then he turned, locked eyes with me, and looked back at the building, like he was trying to tell me something.
Then he walked away.
The chaos slowly subsided. I sat there, soaked in blood, staring at the spot where Cole had been. The Chief passed by and stared at me for a moment but didn't say a word.
I wiped my face. Slapped myself lightly.
None of this made sense.
Why kill him if he was already in custody? Why the elaborate handover? Why the bruises? How did he know he would be killed?
And most importantly would Dr. Quist tell me anything?
Sitting there wouldn't get me answers.
I stood and marched to her holding cell.
Russell called my name. I ignored him.
People stared as I passed, blood on my clothes, dirt on my face. I didn't care.
I asked the officer to leave us alone and stepped in.
Dr. Quist looked me over, raising an eyebrow. "You might want to change clothes."
"You should be more curious about whose blood this is."
"Should I?"
"It's Cole's. He was just killed. Right after the transfer."
She blinked. "I don't believe you."
"It's true. And I think you know something."
"What did he say to you yesterday?" I asked, gripping the bars.
She hesitated, eyes narrowing. "They won't dare betray me."
"So they did offer you something to keep quiet?"
"You're twisting my words."
"Am I? You signed something yesterday. We both know it wasn't for immunity. You sold your silence."
Still silence.
"I've seen those hush contracts. They own you now. Did you really think they wouldn't leave a trail? They made it too easy to tie you to your husband's murder."
She shifted, uncomfortable.
"Help me. Please. You saw what happened to Cole. You'll be next."
She looked up, fear flickering in her eyes. "They gave me his files… and forgot to omit a few things."
My pulse quickened. "Like what?"
"They made him kill people. Because of his abilities. The names were in his file."
"Where's the file?"
"My secretary. She has it."
Before I could respond, the door slammed open. Three men stormed in.
"What were you two talking about?" one of them asked, eyes sharp.
I sneered at Dr. Quist. "Just reminding her she killed my brother-in-law. Hope she rots."
I turned on my heel and left, heart racing.
Back in the office, I went to Russell.
"We have to go. I need to change."
On our way out, we passed Dr. Quist being escorted in cuffs to a waiting van. Our eyes met. I gave her a nod.
She nodded back.