Chapter 12: The Recording

The police arrived within minutes.

By then, the black car was long gone.

Callan sat beside me on the pavement, his hand still gripping my shoulder.

Are you hurt?

I shook my head.

No.

He looked at me for several seconds before finally letting go.

I couldn't stop staring at the recording drive in my hand.

Someone had just tried to kill us.

And now I knew the truth was much bigger than a stolen research budget.

At the police station, we gave our statements.

Callan told them about the shooting.

I told them about the evidence.

Neither of us mentioned the entire investigation.

Not yet.

When we left, the sky was already dark.

Callan walked beside me in silence.

Then he stopped.

Sage, you shouldn't go home alone.

I'm not afraid.

You should be.

I looked at him.

For years, I had wanted Callan to worry about me.

Now that he finally did, it only made me sad.

I can take care of myself.

He nodded.

I know.

We drove to Daniel's office instead.

He was waiting for us.

When he saw the expression on our faces, he immediately locked the door.

What happened?

Someone shot at us.

Daniel's face hardened.

Then they've realized you have the recording.

I placed the drive on his desk.

We need to hear it.

Daniel connected it to his computer.

The recording began with static.

Then Elara's voice filled the room.

I can't keep doing this.

Callan's voice followed.

You knew what you were getting into.

I didn't know they'd go this far.

Who are you talking about?

The people funding the project.

Silence.

Then Elara whispered a name.

Victor Hale.

Daniel suddenly froze.

I know that name.

Who is he?

The institute's former chairman.

I frowned.

Former?

He officially retired two years ago.

But he still controls several private companies that fund the institute.

The recording continued.

Elara's voice became desperate.

Victor said the project had to stay secret.

He said nobody could know where the money was coming from.

Callan replied quietly.

And the equipment?

We were supposed to transfer it to his private laboratory.

I felt sick.

So that's where everything went.

The recording continued.

Then Elara said something that changed everything.

What about Sage?

Callan went silent.

Victor knows she handles the administrative records.

If she notices the transfers, she'll expose us.

I'll handle Sage.

Callan's voice was cold.

She trusts me.

I stared at him.

My heart seemed to stop.

Daniel paused the recording.

Sage...

Don't.

I held up my hand.

Play it.

The recording continued.

Elara laughed softly.

You're really going to use her like that?

Callan answered after a long pause.

I don't have a choice.

I clenched my fists.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe.

All those years.

All those times I'd defended him.

All those moments I'd believed his silence meant he cared in his own way.

He had been planning to use my trust.

But then another voice appeared in the recording.

Victor.

His voice was calm and terrifying.

The girl doesn't need to know anything.

If she gets suspicious, make her look responsible.

Callan answered.

And if she refuses?

Then make sure she can't talk.

The recording ended.

Nobody spoke.

I looked at Callan.

You knew.

His eyes filled with guilt.

I knew they wanted to frame you.

But I never agreed to hurt you.

You said you'd handle me.

I was trying to buy time.

You let me believe I was worthless.

I know.

You let everyone blame me.

I know.

You abandoned me in that fire.

His voice cracked.

I thought Elara had the evidence.

I thought if I got her out, I could come back for you.

But you didn't.

No.

I didn't.

I turned away.

For the first time, Callan didn't try to stop me.

Daniel looked at me.

We need to take this to federal investigators.

I nodded.

But before we could move, his phone rang.

He answered.

His expression changed.

What happened?

He listened for several seconds.

Then he slowly lowered the phone.

Victor Hale has disappeared.

I frowned.

Disappeared?

His private laboratory was found empty tonight.

Daniel looked at the recording drive.

And every security camera in the building was wiped.

I felt a chill run through me.

Someone had known we were coming.

Then my phone buzzed.

One new message.

Unknown number.

The message contained only five words.

You should have stayed invisible, Sage.