บททั้งหมดของ The Second Wife's Revenge : บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

Three days after Cross's sentencing, Santos called another meeting.FBI headquarters again. Same secure room. But this time, more agents present. Director Collins. Assistant Director Morrison. This was serious.Santos started without preamble. "We've identified The Covenant's new leadership structure. Cross had a deputy. Second in command. Someone who stayed in the shadows while Cross took all the attention."He pulled up a slide. No photo. Just a code name."The Wolf.""The Wolf?" Rachel repeated."That's how members refer to him. Or her. We don't know. Identity is kept secret. Even from most Covenant members. Only the inner circle knows who The Wolf really is.""How is that possible?" Marcus asked."Compartmentalization. The Wolf communicates through encrypted channels. Uses intermediaries. Never meets members directly. It's brilliant, actually. Can't arrest someone you can't identify."Director Collins spoke. "We've intercepted communications. The Wolf has been active since Cross's

Victor's sentencing was scheduled for Friday. One week after the safe house attack.I'd been dreading it. Another courtroom. Another judgment. Another reminder of everything that had been taken from me.The prosecutor called me Wednesday. "We'd like you to give a victim impact statement. Tell the judge how Victor's crime affected you.""Do I have to?""No. But it helps. Gives the judge context for sentencing."I agreed. But didn't know what to say.Victor kidnapped me. Caused my mother's death. Stole twenty-two years of my life.But he'd also helped destroy The Covenant. Testified against Cross. Tried to make amends.How did I weigh those things?Thursday night, I sat at the desk trying to write. Marcus watching."What are you going to say?""I don't know. Part of me wants him to rot in prison for what he did. Part of me is grateful he helped.""So say both.""Can I? Isn't a victim impact statement supposed to be about demanding justice?""It's supposed to be honest. So be honest."I

Victor's murder changed everything.The Wolf had killed him in a federal hospice with FBI agents outside. That level of access, that level of boldness, meant one thing: The Wolf was someone with serious power.Santos called three days after the autopsy results. "We need to talk. Not at FBI headquarters. Somewhere completely off the grid.""Why?""Because if The Wolf has access to federal facilities, they might have access to our offices. Our phones. Our systems. We can't trust anything."We met at an abandoned warehouse in Red Hook. Dante swept it for bugs. Marcus checked every entrance. Santos brought two agents he'd known for twenty years. People he trusted absolutely.The warehouse was cold. Empty. Concrete floors. Broken windows. Perfect for secrets.Santos spread files on a makeshift table. "Victor's death wasn't random. The paralytic used was military grade. Restricted access. Only certain people could get it.""Who?""Government contractors. Military personnel. High-level medic

Santos arrived at the loft the next morning with a thick file."We know who Catherine Cross is now. Her current identity. What she's been doing all these years."He spread photos across the table. Woman in her late fifties. Elegant. Perfectly styled gray hair. Expensive clothes. Warm smile.She looked like someone's grandmother. Not a killer."Catherine Cross is currently living as Catherine Whitmore. Philanthropist. Socialite. Board member of seven charities. Donor to hospitals, museums, children's organizations.""She hides behind charity work?""Not just hides. Uses it. The charities are fronts. Money laundering operations. Donations come in, get cleaned, flow to Covenant operations. It's brilliant. No one questions a charity. Especially one run by someone so respectable."He showed me more photos. Catherine at galas. Shaking hands with politicians. Receiving humanitarian awards."She's fifty-eight. Never married. No children. Lives in a penthouse on Fifth Avenue. Estimated net wor

The location came through at one PM. Not a restaurant. Not a law office.The Plaza Hotel. Fifth Avenue. Presidential suite."She's being theatrical," Santos said through my earpiece. "Showing off. Proving she's untouchable."I arrived with Dante and two FBI agents. They swept the hallway. Checked for weapons. Found nothing."We'll be right outside," Dante said. "Any trouble, we come in."I nodded. Knocked on the suite door.A man answered. Security. Professional. Cold. Searched me for weapons. Recording devices. Found the wire immediately."Ms. Whitmore said no recording."I pulled it off. Handed it over. "Tell Catherine I'm here."He disappeared. Returned moments later. "She'll see you now."The suite was massive. Floor to ceiling windows. Manhattan skyline spreading below. Expensive furniture. Art on the walls.Catherine Cross sat by the window. Afternoon light making her look almost angelic.She wore cream. Pearls. Hair perfectly styled. Looked like she was hosting a charity lunche