Chapter 11 - The Mother's Legacy**
Ethan stared at Detective Jenkins, his breath catching in his chest as the diner room seemed to tilt around him.
"Sarah knew?" Ethan gasped, his voice barely a whisper.
"Sarah knew that Richard Reed was trying to siphon funds from the Vance Mining Trust," Jenkins explained, leaning closer.
"She realized Samantha was planted in your life to monitor your family before Sarah even passed away."
"The car crash... it wasn't an accident, was it?" Ethan asked, tears burning behind his eyelids.
Jenkins remained silent for three agonizing seconds before slowly shaking her head.
"The brake lines on Sarah's sedan were deliberately severed in a garage in downtown Cincinnati," Jenkins confirmed.
Ethan buried his face in his hands, a wave of profound anguish shaking his entire body as he finally understood the horror.
He hadn't just failed to protect Maya from a cruel stepmother; he had brought his wife's killer directly into their home.
"You have six hours before Richard Reed's legal team freezes this evidence," Jenkins warned, tapping the drive.
May you like
"We need to get this directly to a federal magistrate in Richmond before noon."
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