Chapter 6: Evidence of Corruption

The soft glow of the streetlamps outside Sarah’s apartment window cast a warm, amber hue over the room as Rhys and Sarah stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind them. The scent of fresh coffee lingered in the air, a comforting aroma that seemed to welcome them in. Sarah’s apartment was a cozy, lived-in space, filled with the comforting clutter of a single woman’s life. A worn-out couch sat in the center of the room, surrounded by stacks of books and newspapers, a testament to Sarah’s insatiable curiosity and dedication to her job.

Rhys’ eyes scanned the room, taking in the details with a keen interest.

“Nice place, Sarah,” he said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “Thanks,” Sarah replied, a soft blush creeping up her cheeks. “It’s not much, but it’s home.” She gestured towards the couch. “Have a seat. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, tea, something stronger?” Rhys shook his head, his eyes still taking in the details of the room. “No, thanks. I’m good.” He paused, then added, “Unless you have any of that Irish whiskey you were drinking the other night?” Sarah raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips.

“You remember that, do you? I thought you were too busy trying to hack into my computer to notice my drink choices.” Rhys chuckled, taking a seat on the couch. “I noticed more than you think. But I digress. We need to talk about what we found, and what we’re going to do next.” Sarah nodded, her expression turning serious. She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down on the other end of the couch, her eyes fixed on Rhys. “You’re right. We need a plan. But first, let’s go over the evidence again. What exactly did you find?” Rhys pulled out his laptop from his backpack and opened it.

He navigated to a secure folder and pulled up the encrypted file. “This is the list I was telling you about. It’s a log of names, dates, and locations. And as you can see, there’s a name on it that I recognize.” He pointed to a line on the screen. “This is the victim from last week.

Sarah leaned in, her eyes scanning the screen. “How is that possible? How can this be connected to the other victims?”

Rhys took a deep breath, his fingers hovering over the keyboard. “It’s ... complicated. But I think it’s safe to say that these victims are all connected in some way.

And I think it’s safe to say that whoever is behind this is someone we need to take down. Sarah, I know this is a lot to take in, but we need to be smart about this.

Sarah nodded, her eyes scanning the screen. How do we make sure we’re not leading anyone into a trap?”

Rhys leaned back in his chair, his eyes fixed on the screen. But I think I have an idea. I know someone who can help us.

But we can’t just walk into this blindly.”

Rhys’ words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their implications. Sarah’s mind raced as she tried to process everything. She looked at Rhys, his face illuminated by the soft glow of the laptop screen, and saw the same sense of urgency and fear reflected in his eyes.

Rhys hesitated for a moment, his fingers tapping a rhythm on the desk.

Sarah leaned forward in her chair, her eyes fixed on Rhys. “Who is it?”

Rhys took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of eavesdropping devices.

Sarah leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing as she considered Rhys’ words. Someone who can vouch for her. But we need to be cautious.

We need to make sure she’s the real deal.” Sarah’s voice was steady, her eyes scanning the room as if expecting someone to jump out from the shadows.

Rhys nodded, understanding her concern. That’s why I have a plan. I have a contact, an old friend from my hacker days. He’s now a consultant for the DHS, working on cybersecurity. He’s the one who can vouch for Victoria Sterling. But we need to meet him in person, away from prying eyes.” “Away from prying eyes?

You mean like a clandestine meeting?” Sarah asked, her voice laced with skepticism. “Exactly. We can’t risk being overheard or followed. My contact, let’s call him Alex, has a safe house in the city. It’s a place where we can talk freely, without the risk of being intercepted.” Rhys explained, his eyes never leaving Sarah’s face.

Sarah took a sip of her coffee, her mind racing. “And you trust this Alex? He’s not going to sell us out to the highest bidder?” Rhys chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “Sarah, I’ve known Alex since we were both just kids trying to hack into government databases.

He’s one of the few people I trust implicitly. And he owes me a favor. Besides, he’s the one who introduced me to Victoria Sterling in the first place. If anyone can vouch for her, it’s him.” Rhys’ voice was steady, his eyes meeting Sarah’s with a reassuring gaze.

Sarah took a deep breath, her mind still racing with the implications of their plan. “Alright, let’s do it. We can’t afford to take any chances.” She stood up, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger. “I’ll get my gun and some extra ammo.

We should be prepared for anything,” Sarah said, her voice steady as she walked towards her bedroom. Rhys nodded, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger. “I’ll grab my laptop and make sure we have everything we need for the meeting.” As Sarah disappeared into her bedroom, Rhys’ eyes fell on a framed photograph on the mantelpiece. It was a picture of Sarah in her police uniform, standing next to an older woman with the same striking features. He picked up the frame, his fingers tracing the edge of the glass. “Is this your mother?” he called out, his voice barely above a whisper. Sarah paused, her hand on the doorknob of her bedroom.

She turned to look at Rhys, her expression softening slightly. “That’s my mother,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “She passed away a few years ago. I miss her every day.” Rhys nodded, his eyes filled with a mix of sympathy and understanding. “I’m sorry, Sarah. I didn’t mean to pry.” Sarah shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “It’s okay. I don’t mind talking about her. She was a strong woman, a great cop. She taught me everything I know.” She walked back into the living room, her eyes scanning the room for any signs of danger. “I’ll be right back.

I just need to make a quick call,” Sarah said, her voice steady as she walked towards her bedroom. He watched as Sarah disappeared into her bedroom, the door clicking shut behind her. He took a deep breath, his mind racing with the implications of their plan. He knew they were taking a risk, but he also knew that they had no choice. They had to find a way to expose the truth, no matter the cost.

As he waited for Sarah to return, Rhys’ eyes fell on a framed photograph on the mantelpiece.

Just then, Sarah’s phone rang.

She glanced at the caller ID and raised an eyebrow. “It’s Jack’s cousin, Tom. He must have news about Victoria Sterling.” She answered the call, putting it on speaker. “Tom, what do you have for us?” she asked, her voice steady.

“Sarah, Rhys, I’ve made contact with Victoria Sterling,” Tom’s voice came through the speaker, slightly distorted by the poor connection. “She’s agreed to meet with you both, but she wants to do it in person and off the record. She’s worried about security and doesn’t want to discuss anything over the phone.”

Rhys leaned forward, his eyes fixed on the phone. “Where and when does she want to meet?”

Tom hesitated for a moment before replying, “She’s suggested a small, out-of-the-way café in the Italian Market. It’s called ‘Caffè Amore’. She’ll be there tomorrow at noon.

She’s expecting you both.” Sarah and Rhys exchanged a glance, the weight of their mission settling over them like a shroud. “We’ll be there,” Sarah replied, her voice steady despite the butterflies fluttering in her stomach. “Thanks, Tom. We owe you one.” She ended the call and turned to Rhys, her eyes reflecting the seriousness of their task. “We need to be ready. This could be our chance to finally put an end to this.” Rhys nodded, his expression grave. “I’ll make sure we have everything we need. As they prepared for their meeting with Victoria Sterling, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the hum of conversation filled the air of Caffè Amore. The small café was tucked away in a quiet corner of the Italian Market, its wooden tables and chairs worn with age and use.

A bell above the door chimed softly as Sarah and Rhys stepped inside, their eyes scanning the room for Victoria Sterling. It was noon on the dot, and the café was filled with the aroma of fresh coffee and the hum of lunchtime conversation. A woman sitting alone at a table by the window caught Sarah’s eye, her sharp gaze meeting theirs. She raised a hand in a subtle wave, and Sarah nodded in acknowledgment.