Sarah had been tailing that car since it left the police station. Her eyes were locked on the license plate of the black sedan ahead of her, the car she knew all too well. It was John Blake's car—her husband's. Her breath was shallow, her grip on the steering wheel tight, as the reality of what she was doing sank in deeper with every turn of the wheels.
the investigation into John had been… unsettling. On the surface, everything seemed ordinary—his routine, his work, his whereabouts. Yet something wasn't right. There was a nagging feeling in Sarah's gut that wouldn't go away. Every lead she'd followed on the Vivian case, every thread she pulled, somehow led back to John. But why? He wasn't directly involved in the murders, of that much she was sure. But there was something—or someone—tugging him into the web.
A Someone else.
Sarah's heart clenched at the thought. The possibility that her husband was cheating on her had slowly started to creep in, poisoning her mind with doubt. As much as she hated to admit it, the signs were there. Late nights, unexplained absences, calls he would avoid in her presence. Now, she was watching his car glide through the streets, not on some official business, but something far more personal.
But still she felt a strange wave of relief wash over her regardless of this cheating scenario and him spying over her for others. If it was just an affair—just infidelity—at least it wasn't murder. At least he wasn't complicit in Vivian's crimes. Maybe he was just… being used.
The car in front of her took a sharp turn into a narrow alley. Sarah's eyes narrowed. This area looked familiar.
Too familiar.
She followed closely, her pulse quickening when John pulled into the parking lot of a towering apartment building. Her mind raced.
"This is where we picked up Vivian", She thought.
The very place where two days ago, she had captured the notorious Vivian Donovan. What were the odds that John would show up here? Her thoughts spiraled.
Why here of all places?
Why now?
Sarah parked her car a few spaces away, careful to keep out of sight. She watched as John stepped out of his vehicle and disappeared into the building. She followed, moving quickly but silently, her heart pounding in her chest. Her breath caught in her throat as she saw him enter the elevator and press the button for the seventh floor.
The seventh floor.
Why here? she thought again, feeling a cold sense of dread wash over her. She waited for the elevator to ascend before following, taking the stairs to stay out of sight. By the time she reached the seventh floor, she could hear the distant sound of John's footsteps echoing down the hallway. Sarah froze when she saw which apartment door he was approaching.
That apartment.
Her blood ran cold. She knew this place. She'd been here before—days ago. What the hell was John doing here?
She ducked into the shadows of the hallway, watching John knock on the door. It swung open, and he stepped inside. She waited. Five minutes passed, then ten. He wasn't coming out. Her fingers trembled as she pulled out her phone. She needed answers, and she needed them now.
Without thinking, Sarah dialed his number. The phone rang once… twice… and then, he picked up.
"Hey, honey," John's voice was light, too light for someone supposedly working a case. "Are you coming home?" Sarah asked, trying to keep her voice steady, casual.
"Ah, no… not yet. I'm on a stakeout," he replied smoothly, but something in his tone sounded rehearsed.
Sarah's eyes flicked toward the door of the apartment. She swallowed, her throat dry. "A stakeout? Really?" She forced a laugh. "It's freezing outside. You must be cold in the car."
"Oh, yeah, it's chilly," John said, his voice slightly tense now. "But, you know, it's the job. Gotta stay out here until something breaks."
Sarah's grip tightened on the phone. "Who's with you? I thought I heard someone in the background."
There was a brief pause. "Oh, no one. Just some drunk stumbling through the alley," John said quickly. "You know how it is. Nothing exciting."
Sarah bit her lip, her mind racing. She glanced back at the apartment door. "Alright… take care, then," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "Stay safe."
"Yeah, you too. Love you." John said, his voice casual again, as if nothing was amiss.
Sarah ended the call and stared at her phone, her hands trembling. Her gaze drifted back to the apartment door. She knew something wasn't right. Her instincts screamed at her that there was more going on than just an affair. But what?
Slowly, she opened her phone's contact list. Her thumb hovered over the search bar, her mind racing as she typed one letter—"L".
Her thoughts spiraled as the name flashed on the screen. Laura had been a name mentioned in passing during a recent investigation. A name that seemed to float on the edges of her consciousness. A name John had mentioned once… or had he? Sarah's mind was too clouded with doubt to recall. But now, as she stared at it on her phone, she knew she couldn't ignore it anymore.
Suddenly, a wave of frustration hit her. She shoved the phone back into her pocket and stormed out of the building. The cold night air stung her face as she climbed into her car, her heart still racing, her mind a storm of emotions. The truth was there, waiting for her to uncover it.
She dialed another number.
"Maya, it's me," Sarah said, her voice low and urgent.
"Sarah? How it's going?" Maya's voice sounded concerned.
"Get me everything you can on someone named Laura Smith," Sarah said, her voice hardening with determination. "I need to know who she is and what she's been up to."
The name felt like a ticking time bomb, and Sarah was done waiting for it to explode.