Chapter 28
The Warrant
The warrant alleged that Mara had coordinated the destruction of clinic records to conceal embezzlement.
Rowan read it twice, anger visible only in the way he folded it. The evidence was built from her father’s account codes, the missing archive, and Leon’s settlement payments. The sterile conference room smelled faintly of burnt coffee, the walls adorned with generic motivational posters that felt like mocking reminders of their current predicament.
Celeste had found a way to turn every honest act into a guilty shape.
Mara sat at the table, her fingers tracing the grain of the polished wood, feeling the smooth surface beneath her fingertips like it could anchor her to some semblance of reality. She glanced at Nia, who was standing by the door, her arms crossed tightly, a fortress of resolve.
Mara gave agents her laptop, her phone, and the dry reserve ledger. Nia copied the chain-of-custody receipt before they could leave.
“You think that matters?” an agent asked, his tone dismissive as he tapped the edge of the receipt with a pen.
“It will,” Nia said, her voice steady, the weight of their shared history fueling her conviction.
Adrian was led past Mara, his eyes darting around the room, searching for something—maybe a way to help. “The federal team isn’t theirs,” he whispered, leaning in closer. “But their source is.”
Mara’s heart sank. She knew that source was Celeste. The thought twisted like a knife in her gut. The agents took Mara for an interview, and as she walked away, she caught a glimpse of Nia’s determined expression, a silent promise of support.
Through the precinct window, she saw Celeste’s car waiting across the street. The sleek black sedan seemed out of place against the gritty backdrop of the precinct, a polished predator lurking in the shadows.
Celeste was not watching Mara.
She was watching Leon walk into the building alone.
Mara’s stomach churned. Leon, with his easy smile and charming demeanor, had always been a source of comfort amidst chaos. But now he appeared oblivious to the storm brewing just outside the precinct walls. She could almost hear the whispers of the past, the laughter they had shared, and the secrets they had kept.
“Mara,” one of the agents called, breaking her reverie. “We need you to come with us.”
She stood, her legs feeling like lead as she followed them down the stark hallway, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. The air felt colder here, devoid of the warmth she had once felt in this space.
In the interview room, fluorescent lights flickered, casting harsh shadows on the stark white walls. The agents settled in, their expressions unreadable. “Let’s start with your relationship with Celeste,” one of them prompted, leaning forward, his fingers steepled together.
Mara hesitated, the words caught in her throat. “Celeste is—”
“Your mentor,” the agent finished for her, his voice smooth, almost too smooth. “You’ve learned a lot from her, haven’t you?”
“More than I bargained for,” Mara replied, her voice sharper than she intended.
“Interesting choice of words,” he noted, scribbling on his notepad. “Tell us about the clinic’s finances.”
As she spoke, each word felt like a betrayal, a thread unraveling the fabric of trust that had once held her world together. The agents leaned in, their eyes glinting with the thrill of the chase, but all Mara could think about was Celeste’s cold smile when she had first offered her guidance.
Just then, a loud knock carried from the door, breaking the tension. The agent opened it slightly, exchanging a few hushed words with someone in the hallway. When he returned, his expression had shifted, a flicker of concern crossing his face.
“Mara, we need to discuss something urgent.”
The door swung wider, and in walked a tall figure, the silhouette unmistakable. Leon.
“Mara,” he said, his voice steady, but the underlying worry was clear. “I need to talk to you.”
Mara's her pulse kicked as she met his gaze, the weight of their shared history pressing down on her. She had a choice to make, one that could change everything. Trust Leon and reveal her suspicions about Celeste, or protect herself and keep her secrets buried.
As she opened her mouth to speak, the door behind Leon slammed shut, sealing off their fate. The room felt smaller, the walls closing in as she realized she was running out of time.
“Leon, I—”
But before she could finish, the reality of the moment crashed in. The stakes were higher than ever, and the truth was waiting just outside the door, ready to burst in.