The Aftermath

Jake Morrison's POV

Jake Morrison sat in the hospital bed three days later, his broken leg in a cast, watching news stories about the mine collapse.

"Millbrook's corruption network destroyed," the reporter stated. "Dozens jailed. Senator Webb's criminal business exposed across twelve states."

Senator Webb. Jake hadn't known Vincent had a third brother in politics.

Emma sat beside Jake's bed, holding his hand. Neither of them had spoken much since their father's funeral that morning. The whole town had come to celebrate Thomas Morrison, the former police chief who'd died a hero.

Maya entered bringing coffee and newspapers. "The FBI wants to interview you again tomorrow. They're building cases against everyone linked to the organization."

"How many people?" Jake asked.

"Over a hundred so far," Maya answered. "Judges, lawmakers, business owners. Webb's files named them all."

Jake should have felt successful. They'd revealed decades of corruption. Saved their town. Brought justice for Sarah Martinez, Danny Santos, and all the other victims.

But all Jake felt was empty.

His father was dead. His cousin Dale was dead. So many people had died to stop Webb's group.

"Jake," Emma said quietly. "Someone's here to see you."

Jake looked up as Captain Rodriguez entered with a man in an FBI suit.

"Mr. Morrison, I'm Agent Harrison," the man said. "I need to tell you something about the mine collapse."

Jake's stomach tightened. "What is it?"

"We've been analyzing the bodies we found. Vincent Webb is definitely dead. Martin Brennan, the judge's brother, is also dead." Agent Harrison waited. "But we found something strange in the forensic analysis."

"Strange how?" Maya asked.

"Vincent Webb's body shows signs of poisons. He was dead before your father shot him."

Jake tried to process this. "Poisoned by who?"

"We don't know yet. But here's what worries us." Agent Harrison pulled out a picture. "We found this on Vincent's body."

The photo showed a group of guys in expensive suits, standing around a conference table. Jake recognized Vincent Webb and Judge Brennan.

But there were five other guys in the photo, all with their faces blurred.

"Vincent was poisoned by someone in his own organization," Agent Harrison stated. "Someone who wanted him dead before he could talk to cops. Someone who's still out there."

Emma squeezed Jake's hand. "The organization is bigger than we thought."

"Much bigger," Agent Harrison confirmed. "Vincent Webb ran businesses in twelve states. But our evidence shows there's a national network. Maybe international. And whoever's in charge just eliminated the only person who could name them."

Jake felt sick. "So it's not over."

"The Millbrook corruption is over," Agent Harrison said. "But the bigger organization? They're still working. And now they know you and your sister exposed their plan here."

"Are we in danger?" Maya asked.

"We're providing protection," Captain Rodriguez assured them. "Round-the-clock security for all of you."

After they left, Jake stared at the ceiling, his mind running.

They'd won the fight but not the war. Somewhere out there, powerful people were planning their next move.

"Jake?" Emma's voice pulled him from his thoughts. "There's something else."

"What?"

Emma pulled out a letter from her pocket. "A lawyer came to Dad's funeral. He said Dad left something for us. A safe deposit box we didn't know about."

Jake sat up despite the pain in his leg. "What was in it?"

"I don't know yet. The lawyer said we both have to be present to open it. But Dad's note said it was important. That it might help us finish what he started."

Before Jake could reply, his phone rang. Unknown number.

He almost didn't answer, but something made him pick up.

"Hello?"

Static crackled on the line. Then a voice Jake recognized made his blood run cold.

"Hello, Jake. This is Judge Harold Brennan."

Jake's hand tightened on the phone. "You're supposed to be dead."

"My brother Martin died in my place. A necessary sacrifice." Brennan's voice was relaxed, almost friendly. "I'm calling to give you a warning."

"I don't want to hear anything you have to say."

"You will want to hear this," Brennan urged. "Because it's about your mother."

Jake froze. "What about my mother?"

"Marcus Webb didn't act alone when he killed her. I helped him plan it. And there's something else you need to know about that night. Something that will change everything you think you know about your family."

"Tell me now," Jake ordered.

"Not over the phone. Meet me tomorrow night. Come alone, or you'll never learn the truth about why your mother really had to die."

The line went dead.

Jake stared at his phone, his heart racing.

"What did he say?" Emma asked fearfully.

Jake looked at his sister, then at Maya. He thought about his father's strange safe deposit box. About Brennan's vague warning. About the larger organization still working in the shadows.

"He wants to meet," Jake said slowly. "He claims he knows something about Mom's death that we don't."

"It's a trap," Maya said instantly.

"Probably," Jake agreed. "But what if he's telling the truth? What if there's more to Mom's death than Webb pushing her car off the road?"

Emma shook her head. "Jake, you can't trust him."

"I know. But I have to know the truth." Jake looked at both of them. "My whole life, I've been fighting for truth and justice. How can I stop now?"

Maya's face was tight with worry. "If you go, I'm coming with you."

"Me too," Emma added.

"No. He said come alone."

"Then you're not going," Maya stated strongly.

They fought for an hour, but Jake's mind was made up. Tomorrow night, he would meet Judge Brennan and learn the truth about his mother's death.

Even if it killed him.

The next evening, Jake drove to the meeting spot Brennan had texted him—an abandoned warehouse by the river.

He knew this was stupid. Knew it was probably a trick. But he had to know.

Jake parked and walked inside, using crutches because of his broken leg.

The building was dark and empty. Or seemed to be.

"Judge Brennan?" Jake called out. "I'm here like you asked."

Lights suddenly blazed on, stunning Jake.

When his eyes adjusted, he saw he wasn't alone.

Judge Harold Brennan stood at the far end of the building.

But he wasn't alone either.

Standing beside him were four people Jake recognized from news stories and FBI briefings.

A state senator. A district judge. A police commissioner from another city. And a woman Jake had never seen before, wearing an expensive suit and cold smile.

"Hello, Jake," the woman said. "My name is Catherine Webb. I'm Marcus and Vincent's bigger sister. And I'm the real head of the group your father spent twenty years trying to destroy."

Jake's crutches nearly slipped from his hands.

Catherine Webb smiled bigger. "Your mother didn't die because she found corruption, Jake. She died because she found something much worse. Something that connects your family to our company in ways you never imagined."

She pulled out a picture and held it up.

Jake's world tilted when he saw what it showed.

His mother. Young and happy. Standing with Catherine Webb and Judge Brennan.

All three of them wore matching badges that said "Internal Affairs Investigation Team."

"Your mother wasn't a courthouse clerk, Jake," Catherine said softly. "She was a secret FBI agent. And she was my partner until the day she betrayed us all."