Sofia’s eyes widened, locking on the bold, black letters at the top of the arrest warrant. Harboring a fugitive. The words hit her like invisible ice, stabbing straight through her chest. Numbness crept into her fingers and toes. She forced herself to stand upright, even as her legs threatened to give out. Her hand clung tight to the doorframe, her knuckles white, her smile shaky and stiff, more painful than tears.

“Officer, there must be a mistake. I don’t even know anyone named Nathaniel, much less help him hide.”

The officer in charge looked right at her, his gaze sharp, unblinking, and cold. “We’ll sort that out at the station. Please cooperate and come with us.”

Sofia’s heart hammered so hard it hurt, her fingertips trembling. She wanted to keep arguing, but two officers stepped closer, boxing her in on both sides.

“Ms. Meyer, if you work with us, we’ll let you keep your dignity. You don’t want us putting you in cuffs and dragging you out in front of everyone, do you?”

The words hit her like a slap. She felt the blood freeze in her veins. Instinctively, she glanced down the dim hallway. Several doors were cracked open just enough for people to peek out. Curious, judging eyes watched her from the shadows, every stare a needle against her skin.

“Alright. Let me grab a coat.”

She could barely feel her legs as she climbed into the police car. The city outside slipped past her window, familiar but suddenly distant. Her mind was blank. She had been so careful. How did they find out?

The car sped toward the city police station. No one said a word. Only Sofia’s shaky breaths filled the silence, heavy with fear and anger she could barely swallow.

At the same time, in a cold

interrogation room in Brookfield, Nathaniel sat chained to a metal

mess, his eyes

chair His hair was a mim,

flat and empty. Across from him, Frank pushed a pile of photos across the table. They showed the iron box Bailey had hidden, and every scrap of evidence inside.

“Nathaniel, care to explain these?” Frank’s voice was low and steady, all authority.

Nathaniel stared at the photos, his whole body trembling. “How did you find that place…”

Frank cut him off, voice even colder. “You can’t cover up the truth forever. The law always catches up to people like you.”

Nathaniel twisted against his cuffs, a wild, desperate look in his red-rimmed eyes. “Was it Sofia? Did she betray me?” She was his daughter. The thought made him Sick.

As he struggled, his gaze landed on the last photo. A slip of paper, edges torn, handwriting faded. West Side Dock, Warehouse 3.

Nathaniel froze. It was Bailey’s handwriting. He never thought anyone would find that place, not after all these years. But Bailey had known even twenty years ago. The police must have found him

because of that note.

Nathaniel finally stopped fighting. Frank signaled the officers to take him away.

“Sofia’s been arrested too. She’s suspected of harboring a fugitive. She’ll face the law just like you.”

Nathaniel went still, then let out a bitter laugh, one that sounded broken. “After all my planning, all my schemes, in the end I lost to a dead man.”