Secret Warrior

tightly, the tension in her shoulders refusing to dissipate even as the miles between her and Mark's house grew. The stolen folder sat on the passeng

timidated and quick to betray his old associates. Mark Callahan, though physically tougher, had crack

ew H

alibis were airtight. A lawyer by profession, Andrew had a reputation for winning impossible cases and manipulating the system

out under an assumed name. Erica didn't know why he had chosen to isolate himself, but she didn't ca

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had printed earlier. The cabin was deep in the forest, accessible only by a narrow trail that wound through dense trees and steep inclines.

silence around her. Erica moved quickly but carefully, her senses on high alert. She had no ide

sed on, driven by the thought of her sister's face. Lillian had been so full of life, her laughter infectious and he

ehind a tree to observe the scene. The cabin was a modest structure, its windows glowing with the wa

She circled the perimeter, looking for any signs of surveillance or traps. When she w

ck

mplex than the ones she had encountered before, but her steady hands and sharp mind made qu

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re crackled in the stone hearth, casting flickering shadows across the room. Erica could hear the faint hum

f reading glasses perched on his nose. Erica took a moment to study him. His appearance was unassuming-sligh

nd pulled out the stun gun

e said, her voice

papers. Slowly, he turned in his chair,

e asked, his ton

oser, her grip on the stun gun tightening.

with confusion, then realizati

"And I'm here to make sure y

culating gaze. "I assume you've already visited Victor a

Erica replied. "Just like y

he was untouchable. "You think you can intimidate me?

e-enough to destroy whatever's left of your life. But I'm giving you a chance

e bluffing. If you had real evidence, you wou

d, the electrical charge hitting Andrew square in the ches

" Erica said,

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o a chair in the center of the room. Erica stood

talk now?"

face pale and sweaty. "You

t in his face, making him sputter. "Let's try again. Tell me everyth

ed silent, hi

otographs she had taken of Mark's files. She held the screen in

ng-the lies, the bribes, the threats. You made sure my sister never g

, his composure faltering for the f

at I have it. And unless you want the whole world

allow. "You have no idea what you'

me," Eric

think this is just about Lillian? You think s

urned. "What are

ther families. We did what we had to do to protec

destroyed innocent lives, and you're

e like us-powerful people-we make the rules. And peop

early consumed her. She raised the stun gun

wouldn't bring Lillian back. It woul

nly make h

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ng to give me the names of everyone involved," she said. "Ever

eakly. "And why

prison cell," Erica said. "And I'll make sure everyone knows what you did

her words sinking in. For the firs

want to know. But you're making a mistake

y pulled out a notebook and pen

ng for certain: she was closer than ever to uncovering the