Chapter 4

Hearing Victor’s words, the twenty million viewers in the live chat suddenly started noticing something odd.

The tide of comments began to shift.

*Wait... hold on. Isn't this suspicious as hell? His son went missing, and his first instinct wasn't to call 911?*

*Yeah! He's willing to drop half a billion on a psychic, but doesn't trust the police?*

*Is there something shady going on here?*

Victor caught sight of the chat, and a muscle in his jaw twitched violently.

He quickly leaned toward his camera, feigning distress.

"Please don't misunderstand, everyone! I love my son too much to wait through standard police procedures!"

"When it comes to saving my boy, no measure is too extreme!"

His excuse sounded reasonable enough, and the chat was quickly swayed back by his "desperate fatherly love."

Half an hour later,

heavy, coordinated footsteps echoed down the dingy motel corridor.

Dozens of fully armed SWAT officers stormed the hallway, locking down the perimeter in seconds.

A broad-shouldered man with a square jaw and piercing eyes strode into the room.

The gold badge on his chest gleamed under the flickering fluorescent lights.

It was Richard Brooks, the State Police Commissioner.

Derek and Megan had never seen anything like this. Their knees buckled, and they dropped straight to the floor.

Victor was still on the video call, greeting the Commissioner with practiced warmth.

"Commissioner Brooks, sorry to trouble you. It’s this woman right here. She claims she knows where my son is."

Commissioner Brooks gave a curt nod toward the screen, then turned to face me, his expression grave.

"Ms. Chloe Vance, I am Commissioner Richard Brooks."

"Mr. Sterling’s missing son has gripped the hearts of everyone in this state. I need you to cooperate immediately and disclose his location."

I took a deep breath under the watchful eyes of over twenty million viewers.

I didn't look at Derek. I didn't look at Megan. Nor did I look at the smug smirk on Victor’s face on the phone screen.

Instead, I stepped directly up to Commissioner Brooks.

Leaning in close to his ear, I whispered a single sentence—meant only for him.

Commissioner Brooks froze completely.

Having spent thirty years in law enforcement solving horrific homicides, he understood the chilling weight of those words in an instant.

In the next second, he drew his service weapon.

"All units, listen to my command!"

"Alpha Team, surround Victor Sterling’s suburban estate immediately!"

"Bravo Team, arrest Victor Sterling via coordinated warrant, and cuff Derek and Megan right where they stand!"

Dead silence descended upon the room.

On the other end of the video, the cigar slipped right out of Victor’s fingers, hitting the floorboard. His face drained of all color.

Derek and Megan collapsed into trembling heaps.

The live chat completely lost its mind.

*WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK JUST HAPPENED?!*