👉 Previous action: Your sister Maya revealed Julian’s financial deception and the hidden trust fund clause.
The realization hit me with the force of a physical blow. Julian wasn’t just framing me for clout; he was orchestrating my entire breakdown to seize the trust fund. Before we could process the implications, blinding high beams cut through the dark.
Three Oakridge police cruisers screeched to a halt, boxing in Maya’s car. Red and blue lights strobed across the driveway, painting the world in a frantic, pulsating glow.
Detective Halloway stepped out of the lead cruiser, his face grim, illuminated by the flashing lights. He wasn’t looking at us. His gaze was fixed across the street.
He barked an order into his radio. Two other officers converged on Sam Gable’s faded blue station van.
Then, I saw it. Sam, my loyal sound engineer, was yanked from his driver’s seat. His hands were forced behind his back.
“Sam?” I yelled, but Maya clamped a hand over my mouth.
Halloway walked towards us, holding up a small, clear evidence bag. Inside, nestled on a white cloth, glinted a silver watch. A woman’s watch.
“Anonymous tip,” Halloway said, his voice flat. “Led us to search Sam Gable’s trunk.” He paused, letting his words hang in the air. “Found this, Leo.”
He rotated the bag. On the white cloth beneath the watch lay an envelope. My podcast logo, Dead Air, was printed on it.
“Clara Vance’s missing $3,200 silver watch,” Halloway stated, his eyes boring into mine. “And Sam Gable just confessed you paid him five thousand dollars to record a fake murder tape.”
My jaw dropped. The lights, the sirens, Sam’s arrest—it was all part of Julian’s twisted plan.
➡️ Read CHAPTER 9 to continue the story
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