He set one down next to her. "Look," Sarah said, pointing at the screen. "Holloway, the deputy chief. He's on their payroll. "That's why the cops didn't come to the bar until it was already burned down.
Holloway probably gave the order to let it burn. Frank leaned in, his face illuminated by the blue light of the screen. He read the documents, his jaw tightening. Holloway. Frank growled.
I went to high school with that prick. He's been trying to shut down the chapter for years. Now we know why. He's cleering the territory for Vargas. "This is it, Frank.
Sarah said. This is the leverage. If this leaks to the FBI or the press, Holloway goes to prison for life and the Vargas operation gets exposed. "We don't go to the press, Frank said, straightening up. We handle things in-house.
"What do you mean? " "I mean we pay a visit. We show him this and we tell him that if he doesn't call off his dogs and get Apex to back down, his life is over. "Blackmail? " Sarah asked.
"Insurance," Frank corrected. Frank turned to leave, presumably to wake up Mike and Mercerer. "You did good, "Sarah. " Get some sleep. " Sarah felt a surge of pride.
She wasn't just baggage anymore. She was part of the solution. She closed the laptop and rubbed her eyes. The kitchen was quiet. She decided to step out onto the porch for some fresh air before crashing.
The desert night was cold. The moon washed the compound in silver light. Sarah leaned against the railing, watching the shadows of the Joshua trees. Then she heard a voice. Low, hushed, coming from the side of the house.
Yeah, "I know. " "I know. " It was Mercerer. Sarah froze. She knew she should walk away, go back inside.
But something in his tone, urgent, secretive, made her stay. She crept closer to the edge of the porch, straining to hear. "She cracked it. Mercerer whispered into a phone. Yeah, just now.
Holloway is the link. "No, Frank doesn't know I'm calling. "Look," I can get the drive, but I want the guarantee, the presidency, and immunity from the cartel. Yes, tonight. " Sarah's blood turned to ice.
Mercerer wasn't just a doubter. He was a traitor. He was cutting a deal with Apex, or worse, directly with Holloway, to hand over the drive, and Sarah, in exchange for taking over the club. She backed away slowly, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had to tell Frank Creek.