Chapter 11: The Witness
We tied David’s hands and locked him in a small storage room at the back of the mill. Jude wrapped a bandage around his head while Lucas called the FBI line he’d memorized years ago.
“They won’t get here fast enough,” Jude said. “We need proof we can use in court. Proof that sticks.”
Ethan pulled out the drives again. “It’s all here. Every payment, every threat, every name. But we need someone to testify.”
“Marta,” Lucas said suddenly. “Our housekeeper. She’s been with us for twenty years. She saw David meet with those men more than once.”
“She’s in danger too,” I said. “If they find out she talked…”
“That’s why we bring her in,” Lucas said. “We put her in witness protection. And we use her statement to take down the whole ring.”
We drove straight to Marta’s house. When we told her everything, she didn’t hesitate. She pulled out a locked metal box from under her bed—filled with handwritten notes, dates, and descriptions of every secret meeting she’d overheard.
“I always knew he was up to no good,” she said quietly. “But I was scared for you all. Your father made me promise never to speak of it.”
Just then, a car screeched to a halt outside.
