The lead investigator took the folder and flipped through the documents, his brow furrowed in concentration. After about ten minutes, he finally looked up. "Is there any other evidence to prove Reese and Leslie have a personal vendetta?"


    Matthew, who had been tense this whole time, let out a quiet breath and nodded. "Yes." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small recorder. "Reese asked me to get this from her ce. She said it''s a recording of some private conversations between her and Leslie."


    The investigator took the recorder and checked what was on it-two audio files. He pressed y on the first one.


    Reese''s voice came through, steady and clear. "You were the one who cut the oxygen tube in Mr. Ratcliff''s hospital room, right?"


    "So what if I was? So what if I wasn''t?" Leslie''s reply was sharp and unapologetic. "Everyone in the Ratcliff family, even Sebastian, thinks you did it. What does any of this have to do with me?"


    ...


    "And that baby you''re carrying? That''s mine, too."


    The agents all stopped and stared at each other, stunned. No one had expected to hear something like this. Not only that Leslie had tried to hurt Mr. Ratcliff, but that Sebastian would go so far as to make Reese a surrogate for Leslie.


    Matthew felt a sharp ache in his chest. He thought he was prepared for anything after what Reese had told him, but hearing the cold truth still hurt like hell.


    The investigator took a deep breath and yed the second recording. This one was from right before Mr. Ratcliff passed away. In the audio, he named Leslie as the one who hurt him and promised Reese a share of Ratcliff Global.


    "These two recordings make it very clear. Leslie''s been hostile to Reese for a long time," Matthew said, his voice tight with anger. "And listen to the second one. You can hear Sebastian''s mother, Jane. That means she knew Leslie hurt the old man. But she never said a thing. Why? Because she was working with Leslie from the start. That''s why she helped Leslie sneak the data transmission device into Reese''s pocket."


    The investigator''s face was grim. He nodded, then nced at one of his colleagues. The man understood right away. "I''ll go to the interrogation room and release Reese."


    Matthew finally let himself breathe and followed the man out of the observation


    room.


    The interrogation room was dead silent until the door swung open. Reese jumped, startled, like a frightened rabbit.


    "Scared now?" Sebastian''s words were harsh, but he still instinctively stepped in front of her, shielding her from the agents. He turned to the officer "Look, she just made a stupid mistake. We''ll admit guilt, or pay whatever fine you want. Just let me take her home."


    The agent, who had already heard the recordings, shot Sebastian a look of pure disdain. When he turned to Reese, though, his tone softened. "Ms. Meyer, everything''s been cleared up. You''re free to go."


    Reese nodded without saying a word. She stood up, her face unreadable.


    Sebastian lookedpletely


    thrown. He''d been sure that Reese would be in serious trouble for forging evidence and wasting police time. He hadn''t expected her to walk away this easily. He sighed with


    relief, but quickly remembered Leslie. "What about Leslie? Is she...''


    "Leslie isn''t going anywhere," the agent replied, his voice tinged with sarcasm. "There''s solid evidence she stole core national data. It''s a serious crime. She''ll be prosecuted to the full extent of thew."


    "No way!" Sebastian blurted, his face pale. He started to argue, but the agent cut him off.


    “And Mr. Ratcliff, since you vouched for Leslie before, we''ll need you to stay and assist with our investigation. Please cooperate."