It was an anxious trip into the city. Mason's jaw was tightened, but he kept his eyes on the road. Twisting the edge of her coat, Bella sat in the passenger seat. It was a lengthy silence, not an embarrassing one.. Both were thinking the same thing:
If Emily had been killed… then who else had helped cover it up?
They were only an hour from the city when Bella finally spoke.
"You said we're going to see someone you trust. Who?"
"Detective Arlen Monroe," Mason said without looking at her. "He was one of the first on the case after Emily's death. One of the few who didn't think it was an accident."
Bella blinked. "But it was ruled one."
"Because the department didn't want a scandal," he said bitterly. "She fell down the stairs. End of story. No evidence. No fingerprints. No motive. Clean and easy."
Bella glanced at the small bag on her lap. Inside was the flash drive and the journal.
"What if this time we bring them something they can't ignore?" she said.
Mason nodded, but his fingers tighten over the steering wheel.
"I hope so."
---
They arrived at a small brick apartment in a quiet neighborhood just outside downtown. Mason parked out back, then knocked twice at the rusted green door.
It opened immediately.
"Cole," a deep voice said. "Took you long enough."
Detective Monroe was older now, beard thicker, eyes sharper. He wasn't wearing a badge anymore—he'd retired two years ago but he still had the posture of someone who didn't miss much.
Mason gestured to Bella. "This is Emily's sister."
Monroe's expression softened. "You look just like her."
Bella gave a small nod, but said nothing.
Inside, Mason handed over the flash drive and the journal. Monroe scanned them briefly before returning to the two of them.
"If this is what you say it is," he whispered, "then we've got a serious problem."
"Bigger than Emily's death?" Mason asked.
Monroe gave a humorless chuckle. "Let me ask you something, Cole. Back when Emily died… did you ever hear the name Jordan Crestfield?"
Bella froze. "The hospital board member?"
Monroe nodded.
"He was close to Michael Lang. Funded three of Lang's clinics. And he was at your manor the week before Emily died."
Mason's blood ran cold. "I never knew that."
"That's because it was scrubbed from the visitor logs," Monroe said.
Bella leaned forward. "What are you saying?"
Monroe looked at them both. "I'm saying your sister didn't just stumble into a dangerous friendship. She found something she wasn't supposed to see. And these men? They've silenced people for a lot less."
---
Back at the manor, the man in the black coat stepped through the now-empty halls. His gloves left no prints. His eyes scanned every surface until he found the laptop in the study.
He popped the lid.
Password-protected.
He reached into his coat, pulled out a flash device, and plugged it in.
Within seconds, he was inside.
He opened the camera logs, scanned recent clips. His eyes paused on one.
Mason and Bella. Watching the video.
Emily's bruised face on the screen.
He pulled out his phone.
> "They went to Monroe. We need to move fast."
He closed the laptop and looked at a photo of Mason and Emily on the wall. He then shattered it with his gloved fist.
---
That night, Bella stood at Monroe's apartment balcony, staring over the city. The lights were blurry due to the tears she didn't want Mason to see.
He stepped beside her, silent.
"I feel like I'm falling into someone else's life," she said quietly. "Like none of this was ever supposed to be mine."
Mason didn't respond right away. When he did, his voice was low. "When Emily died, I didn't know who I was anymore. But now, with you here, I feel like I'm waking up."
Bella turned to him. "You're not seeing me. You're seeing her."
"No," he said. "I thought I was. At first. But you're not her. You're… you."
She blinked fast, something shifting in her chest.
Mason stepped closer.
"Whatever's happening, we're in it together now," he said. "And I won't lose you too."
Bella looked into his eyes.
This time, she didn't look away.
---
Just before dawn, Monroe stormed into the living room, holding his phone.
"Get up. We've got a bigger mess."
Mason sat up, groggy. Bella followed close behind.
Monroe's voice was grave.
"That video of Emily? It's already online. Someone leaked it."
"What?" Mason said, standing. "How?!"
"I don't know. But they're spinning it. Saying it's a 'deepfake.' Fake footage made to defame powerful men. Michael Lang's lawyers are already issuing statements."
Bella's mouth went dry. "They're going to make her look crazy."
Monroe nodded. "And you two? They'll say you fabricated this for money or attention."
"So what now?" Mason asked, jaw clenched.
Monroe glanced between them.
"Now we find the envelope."
Bella blinked. "What envelope?"
"In the second video. Emily held up a white envelope. The proof she mentioned. Where is it?"
Mason swallowed.
"I didn't find it at the manor."
Monroe's eyes narrowed. "Then someone else already did."