“Victoria.”
She stared at him.
“You told me to trust nobody.”
“I told you not to trust the officers.”
“You knew about Hale.”
“Yes.”
“You knew about Marcus.”
“Yes.”
“And you knew the missing officer was alive.”
Mercer nodded.
Victoria’s voice became cold.
“Then why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I needed you to find the person connecting them.”
Victoria looked at him.
“And that person is you?”
Mercer smiled sadly.
“No.”
He turned toward Marcus.
“He’s the connection.”
Marcus immediately shook his head.
“You promised me protection.”
Mercer ignored him.
Victoria finally understood.
The commissioner had been pretending to be part of the conspiracy to get close enough to expose it.
But there was one final piece missing.
Victoria opened her folder.
“I found the financial records.”
Marcus froze.
“You can’t have those.”
“I do.”
She held up a flash drive.
“Every payment.”
“Every bribe.”
“Every altered evidence report.”
“Every officer who was paid.”
Marcus looked toward the exit.
It was too late.
Investigators entered from every side.
Marcus dropped to his knees.
The second officer stared at Victoria.
“You planned all of this?”
Victoria shook her head.
“Not all of it.”
She looked at the two traffic officers.
“I didn’t plan for you to handcuff me.”
The first officer looked ashamed.
“I’m sorry.”
Victoria nodded.
“I know.”
Then she turned toward the missing officer.
“You’re finally going home.”
He nodded.
But before anyone could leave, Marcus spoke.
“You think this ends with me?”
Everyone stopped.
Marcus smiled.
“You still haven’t found the person who ordered Hale to destroy the evidence.”
Victoria looked at him.
“Who?”
Marcus leaned back.
Then whispered one name.
Victoria’s expression changed completely.
Because it was someone she trusted.
One Comment on “PART 9 — THE REAL CONSPIRACY Nobody spoke. Mercer stepped into the warehouse.”