Chapter 194
Chapter 194:
“The pendant was a decoy,” Kegan said. “The real microphone was the center stone of your earring — the one you were wearing when you went up. The audio is secure. The file is already on its way to your lawyers p>
Cailin slumped against the seat, tears of relief tracking down her face. “Thank you. God, Kegan, thank you p>
“The extraction is complete. Ashley and the children are secure and en route to the secondary location,” Kegan said. “The suite is empty. Go back, collect your personal effects. We leave the country tonight p>
The taxi pulled up to The Sanctuary.
Cailin ran through the lobby, ignoring the stares. She rode the elevator to the penthouse and burst into the suite.
Silence.
The destruction from Hilliard’s rage was a fresh wound in the luxurious room — shattered glass, slashed cushions, feathers still drifting through the air. But there were no toys. No small coats. No Ashley. No children.
A wave of profound, aching loneliness washed over her. It was done. They were safe. She was alone.
𝖩𝗼і𝗻 𝘵𝗵𝗼𝗎𝘀𝖺ո𝘥ѕ о𝗳 fа𝗻𝘴 𝘰ո 𝗀𝗮l𝗇𝗼𝗏е𝘭ѕ.𝖼𝘰m
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Heavy fists pounded on the suite door.
“Police! Open up p>
Cailin’s blood froze. She smoothed her hair, walked to the door, and opened it.
Two uniformed officers stood in the hallway. Behind them was Hilliard. He had just arrived, his face a mask of conflict and shock.
“Cailin Morton?” the officer asked.
“Yes p>
“You are under arrest for the attempted murder of Charla English.” The officer produced a pair of handcuffs. “The family has pressed formal charges p>
Hilliard stepped forward immediately. “I didn’t authorize this! I told you to wait p>
“The victim’s father pressed the charges, Mr. Holloway,” the officer said. He glanced past Cailin at the destroyed suite. “And given the state of this room, we’ll need to secure the premises as a potential secondary crime scene p>
“You will do no such thing,” Hilliard said, his voice dropping dangerously low. He stepped between the officer and the open bedroom door. “You have a warrant for her arrest — not a search warrant for this suite. My lawyers are five minutes out. You will not take one step further into this room until they arrive p>
Cailin looked at Hilliard. She saw the horror on his face. He hadn’t done this. But he had let it happen. He had lost control of everything.
She turned around. The cold metal clicked around her wrists.
The officer gave Hilliard a curt nod, accepting the temporary standoff, and they led her out. As she passed Hilliard, he reached for her.
“Cailin, I’ll fix this. I’ll call my lawyers p>
Cailin pulled away from his touch. She looked at him with dead eyes.
“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” she whispered. “You won, Hilliard. You finally broke me p>
She let them lead her away, leaving Hilliard standing alone in the hallway of the empty, ruined suite — the silence a screaming testament to everything he had just lost.
The air in the interrogation room was stale and recycled, carrying the faint smell of floor wax and old fear. It was a small, windowless box designed to make a person feel small, and it was working.