The moment Bailey heard the police at his door, his heart started racing.


    Were they here because they''d uncovered the secret he''d buried with Nathaniel all those years ago? No, that was impossible! Only the people directly involved knew what had happened. Organ trafficking waspletely forbidden. Nobody who''d taken part would ever risk exposing themselves. Bailey had even been careful to keep everything from Nathaniel, never handing over any evidence. That was why Nathaniel could threaten him, but never actually do anything about it. He didn''t have proof.


    This had to be about Grace and what she''d done to Marie. The thought calmed Bailey a little. He knew exactly what Grace had done. She''d paid Alex to stage an ident and take Marie out of the picture. Sure, it was a scandal, something that would stain the Meyer family name, but it had nothing to do with him personally. The police were probably just here to ask some questions.


    "Let them in," Bailey said, forcing himself to sound calm. Annoyance flickered in his eyes. They were making such a scene. Anyone watching would think the Meyer family was in real trouble.


    "Yes, sir." The butler hurried off, fumbling with the door.


    A group of officers stepped inside, uniforms crisp, their leader''s face set in a hard line. His eyes swept over the room, finallynding on Bailey.


    "Mr. Meyer, we''re from the West Precinct. There''s a case we need to discuss with you. Please cooperate."


    The officer''s tone was steady, but there was no room for argument.


    Bailey raised one eyebrow. "Sure, but isn''t this a little much? The Meyer family might be new to this city, but we''re respected. You just barge in like this? Doesn''t that risk our reputation?"


    The lead officer didn''t react. He reached into his bag and handed Bailey a document.


    "Mr. Meyer, this is a search warrant. We have reason to believe you were involved in illegal transactions with Nathaniel, a fugitive, twenty years ago. We need to search the house."


    "What?" All the bravado drained from Bailey''s face. He felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over him.


    How could this possibly be about that? How did they know?


    His heart pounded and he struggled to catch his breath.


    "No way!" Bailey''s face turned red. "You''ve got the wrong guy! I don''t even know a Nathaniel, let alone do anything illegal. This has to be a mistake!”


    That deal from twenty years ago was his worst nightmare, the one thing he''d always been afraid woulde to light. Not even Nathaniel had any real proof. How did the police get wind of it?


    "A mistake?" The officer let out a sharpugh. “Mr. Meyer, we wouldn''t be here if we didn''t have enough evidence."


    "If it were just a misunderstanding, we wouldn''t show up in the middle of the night."


    "Evidence? What evidence?" Bailey shot back. "You don''t have anything. This is a setup!"


    Hank had never opened that iron box. No one had seen what was inside. How could the police have anything?


    "We''ll see after we search," the officer replied, signaling his team. "Go ahead."


    The officers split up, searching the house from top to bottom. They checked every shelf, every drawer, even looked through the rock garden outside.


    Bailey stood there, shaking with anger as he watched them turn his home upside down.


    "You can''t do this! You''re trespassing! I''ll file aint!"


    No one paid him any mind. The search continued.


    Minutes dragged by. Bailey grew paler, his panic mounting. He''d moved the ol


    old iron box from the


    family home to somewhere else, but he''d brought some records of his dealings with Nathaniel here. All he could do was hope the police wouldn''t find anything.


    However, luck wasn''t on his side.


    One officer came out of the study holding a battered iron box he''d


    found in a hiddenpartment. It Nathaniel had always


    wasn''t the o


    wanted, but inside were enough letters and transaction records to


    prove Bailey and Nathaniel had a history.


    "Mr. Meyer, anything you want to say?" the lead officer asked, holding the box out. His tone was icy.


    Bailey stared at the evidence, his legs giving way. He barely managed to catch himself on the edge of the sofa, his face ashen, lips trembling. He tried to speak, but nothing came out.


    "Take him," the officer said quietly.


    Two officers moved in, grabbing Bailey by the arms.


    “No! You can''t do this!" Bailey fought them, his voice raw. "This only proves I knew Nathaniel. It doesn''t mean anything else!"


    The officers ignored him, marching him toward the door.


    As they pushed him into the police car, Bailey turned for onest look at his vi. He''d bought this house for Marie, never imagining he''d end up leaving it in


    handcuffs for something that happened twenty years ago.


    The police car sped away from the Meyer estate, heading for the West Precinct.


    Inside, Bailey Jeaned back and


    closed his eyes, mind racing. His


    only hope was that hiswyer would


    arrive soon and find a way out this mess, As long as he stuck to his story, as long as there was no direct evidence, maybe he still had a chance.