Before Another War

Chapter Fourteen

Alex squinted as the bright light in the stubbornly dark room shone in her eyes. She felt more like she was being interrogated than interviewed. I can't be a suspect already. 

Morgan and Clive sat across from her. For once, he was quiet, and no one interrupted him. Morgan sorted out her papers like a newsreader at her desk and placed her elbows on the table. 

'Do you know why we wanted to interview you and not the others?' she asked with piercing eyes, making Alex feel queasy.

'No,' she responded truthfully, determined to keep her cool. She knew if she acted nervously, it would only make her more suspicious. 

'Well, I got Clive to do some digging, and it turns out you're in witness protection, yes?'

Alex clenched her teeth. She knew they'd find out at some point, but she didn't think it would be this soon. 

'Yes,' she said, feeling the walls of the room close around her. 

'Do you mind telling us a bit more?'

She gripped onto the sides of her chair. 'It was my dad. He was in pretty bad debt, and these people started coming after us.' She sighed. 'I think it's all over now, but they're still out there.' 

Morgan leaned back in her chair. 'Thank you, do you mind if I call you Sarah?'

'I prefer Alex,' she said, standing her ground.

'But Sarah was your birth name, wasn't it?'

She held the chair tighter to stop herself shaking. She hadn't spoken about her past for a long time. 

'Yes.'

'I must admit your file is an interesting read.' Morgan leaned further over the desk. 'Exceptional people, the McMillans, linked to all of those crimes, but never once convicted. They were smart. Just like you are now.' 

Morgan let her words sit in the air like a bad smell, and Alex knew she was being accused. 

'Look,' she began, knowing she had to defend herself. 'I have nothing to do with Nadia. My family... we've left all of that behind us now. I don't have anything to hide.'

Morgan chuckled. 'Relax, we're not going to arrest you. But we will be keeping an eye on things. So, if you do have any information, tell us.'

Alex nodded, and Clive visibly relaxed as Morgan changed tact. She shouldn't have been scaring Alex, even if she didn't have an alibi. 

'There is something else we need to discuss, but I would appreciate it if you didn't share this with your two friends out there.'

Clive was taken off guard and shot Morgan a quizzical look. She ignored him, and Alex assumed he hadn't been briefed. 

'A couple of hours ago, we received a message. It's rare for this sort of thing to be sent directly to us, but essentially, it was a blackmail note. One million for Nadia.'

Alex's eyes widened. 'You're not going to pay it, are you?'

Morgan laughed again. 'No, of course not. But it shows that the kidnappers exist, and that they're either very stupid or very confident — maybe both.'

'Why are you telling me this?'

'Well, you're in direct contact with everyone from your office, right?' 

Alex nodded.

'And the likelihood is, unfortunately, that someone knows more than they're saying. We'd like you to help.'