Chapter 12: Shades of Truth

Mark faced his next major challenge in the coming days. He was a field agent forced into the role of analyst. He couldn’t do this job alone. As Sarah continued working with James, he started exposing her to his dirty business gradually. Mark started spending extra time with Sarah, simply giving her encouragement and asking about her day. It was his way of getting the names of people she was working with. This slow espionage worked great as he started building the list of potential targets for further investigation.

Mark then started working with various analysts, asking them to investigate each name he had gotten from Sarah. Soon, they made significant progress in charting out the partners and clients. They could also categorize these people based on their records. This progress also proved that Mark’s hunch was right. James was dealing drugs. However, money transactions were significantly larger, showing drug trade was not the only thing James dealt in.

Jinx had made significant progress in his investigation but could only narrow down four potential suppliers for James. Mark did not want Jinx to be exposed too much, as he wasn’t ready to delve deeper into that mess. Taking down James’s drug business was not his only goal. Mark asked Jinx to keep in touch with these potential suppliers, but only as a regular buyer. That connection would come in handy later. He also focused on Jinx’s training now. It was time for Jinx to build some serious skills.

Jinx’s next assignment was a more mundane task. With Mark’s help, he landed a part-time job at a diner. His mission: learn to cook, wait tables, and observe the customers. He was to build character profiles, analyze their behaviors, and predict their reactions. The list of sub-tasks seemed endless.

Jinx did not understand this task, but he followed Mark’s instructions. Despite the grueling work, he worked diligently. Mark had been a savior for him. He was the only person who believed in him and had set him on the right path. Although he didn’t enjoy the hard work, he did it for Mark. He was loyal and committed, willing to do anything for Mark. No questions asked.

The coming weeks paved the way for significant progress for Mark. Sarah had been very busy for the last few weeks. While they spoke every day, Mark knew something was weighing heavily on Sarah’s mind. He soon found out what she was thinking about.

He was watching the recording from Sarah’s office as usual. It was the second time James walked unannounced into Sarah’s office.

Sarah seemed ready for him and spoke first. “James, I know what you are trying to do. If you think incriminating me further will give you more leverage, you’re wrong.” Her voice was hard and laced with controlled anger.

James narrowed his eyes. “You work for me, Sarah. You’ve always been part of my business as much as you have been part of my life.”

“Yes, our past,” Sarah acknowledged with a steady gaze. “There’s no running from it.” Her voice softened. “You were my first love, and I thought you could change. Even after what you did, there was a chance. We could have worked it out, but no more. It’s over.”

She paused. “I still care for you, James, despite everything. I’m begging you, for old times’ sake. It’s not too late. You can still break away from all this.”

James was silent, his expression unreadable. “Nice try, Sarah. But there is no path for me to return. Remember when I told you I messed with the wrong people? They won’t let me walk away. They own me. And now, they own you too.”

He walked up to her, reaching out. She stepped back.

“This is about your husband, isn’t it? That good-for-nothing loser?” He spoke with disdain.

Sarah’s eyes flashed. “Don’t you dare speak against Mark. My marriage is none of your business,” she snapped. “I spoke as a friend, trying to help you. But I see now, there’s no redemption for you.”

She paused, her voice hardening. “I know I started my marriage wrong. It happened so fast, I didn’t dare to be honest with him. But I will confess everything when I choose. Your threats won’t work.”

James snorted. “You’re living a dream, Sarah. You think you can hold onto it after your confession?”

Sarah met his gaze unflinchingly. “You have no hold on me anymore,” she said calmly. “I’ll play along until the end of the year. That’s my limit. We part ways after that, one way or another.”

James shook his head. “Sounds good to me. My project is about to be completed as well. We will sort this mess by the end of the year. One way or another.”

He turned to leave, but Sarah stopped him. “I meant everything I said, James. About wanting a clean break, about staying faithful to my husband. Don’t test me.”

James left after that. Mark closed the recording, deep in thought.

He’d always suspected James and Sarah’s involvement. This meeting confirmed it. Sarah’s resolve impressed him, while her compromise to participate in criminal activity worried him. It wasn’t judgment, but a glimpse of darkness. He was confused about Sarah’s profile analysis, but now he knew. Sarah needed help—not just support but actual mental care. But it wasn’t the time. He wanted to see how she handled things.

Mark’s feelings for Sarah were real, but his trust was fragile. He needed to see if she’d keep her word. He knew he had to be objective, but separating his feelings from his mission was harder than he had imagined.

And there was James’s mention of “messing with the wrong people.” That was a specific lead. Who had he offended? Also, Sarah had set a deadline. James’s big project was about to be ready. It was October, and he barely had two months. Now that Sarah was actively working with James, things would be easy for him. It was time to shift gears.

The coming month turned out to be a whirlwind of activity for everyone. Mark was not the only one to take note of Sarah’s deadline. James also accelerated his plan for his big project.

It started with a change in the transaction pattern. There was too much money coming in, but it was not going out. It was no longer a money laundering operation. James was accumulating a huge sum, and something big was in the pipeline. This new development put everyone on edge. Mark was now collaborating with a large team of analysts, coordinating their efforts and guiding them on key points and targets to focus on. He was not cut out for this kind of work, but he adapted well.

The scope of James’s operation was huge. It covered multiple states and various nefarious elements. Mark had too many things to work on and too little time. His cover was falling. He had to take secure line calls anytime they landed, no matter where he was. Coordinating with various agencies presented another challenge. He ended up spending the night stuck to his laptop, venturing out for the entire night when the situation demanded.

Luckily for him, Sarah had her own set of challenges to notice his odd behavior. She presented a strong front to James and continued to act normal in front of Mark, but it was taking a toll on her. While she noticed his odd behavior, she did not address it. Mark was aware of her struggles, but he did not know their depth. It all changed when he started going through her laptop.

Her laptop turned out to be a gold mine of information. Sarah had been collecting incriminating evidence against James as her trump card to force her exit. That’s how he found the first clue to what James was up to. James was working on the weapons deal, not in small arms but something big. This finding changed everything, as the stakes were raised high in this game. Now he had to find the scale of this deal and his end goal.

However, that was not all that he found. He also noticed a Word document named “My Love.” It was right there on her desktop. This was Sarah’s exit plan. It was very detailed, starting with her savings and investments, business contacts she had made, and prospective new business ventures. But for all its complexity, it had only two goals. A plan for a Christmas confession to Mark and to ask him to quit his job.

Mark’s breath hitched as he read Sarah’s words: ‘ ... ask him to quit his job ... not to overexert himself ... limited mobility ... Kids ... business ideas... ‘ His hand trembled as he scrolled down, his eyes scanning the detailed financial projections and the careful notes about his slow recovery.

“Will she forgive me after knowing the truth?” he wondered. A lump formed in his throat. He had not told her that he was completely recovered. He had gained his full mobility back; all that remained were the scars and his bad memories. He had quit his job a long time ago but never told her. He used his job and his “limited mobility” as continual excuses to do his job and have some privacy when needed.

Sarah had her secrets, but so did he. She was truly in love with him, or at least with the persona he was carrying. By now he had accepted that he was also in love with Sarah, but it was not the time to address his feelings. He wondered if there would ever be a good time for that.