Hidden Motives

Case Closed

Upon arriving at the building I ran to Agent Simmons' office. He was sitting behind his desk just like last time and I immediately filled him in on the new information. I told him all about how Max and I had talked to the headmaster and what he had said.

Agent Simmons just listened and noted down some of the information. "Well that is definitely interesting, but no matter what you have to stay here. Protected"

I let out a sigh of relief. "Thank god".

"However I have some bad news for you. We just got word that your father is taking out people close to you. I'm afraid that Melissa actually betrayed you. She betrayed us. This whole time she was working with your father and she double-crossed. She has been dealt with, but that car that was following you that night. Well, that was Melissa. She is truly your aunt, but I guess she had a deal with your father. She pretended to be on our side and then hurt you. Maddox also was found killed. We know he was struggling with recovery, but we have good reason to believe Melissa murdered him last night. His family has been notified and they elected that James comes to England to gather his belongings. James is not only Rene's brother but also Maddox's. Rene has departed already and no one knows where he went. He was just gone, the second Maddox died. They were close, and James and Rene's parents adopted Maddox when he was three months old. Maddox grew up to be conditioned for the FBI. You would've never known those three were secretly siblings if I hadn't just told you. I'm so sorry to tell you this, I know it must be painful. he said while looking me in the eyes.

"Oh my goodness!" I gasped. "Melissa? How...how could she?"

"Sierra I am going to tell you one thing that I want you to remember. Everyone and I mean everyone. Has a hidden motive. Something that drives them to either do the best or the worst. It's just your job to catch it before it hurts you."

The words that had come out of Agent Simmons's mouth overcame me like a warm blanket. I held on to them and they sunk in deep. I could not trust anyone. It was a common pattern in my life for my own family to betray me. They couldn't be trusted. A woman who had offered her help and support to me in a time I struggled had betrayed me. Just like my father did. Just like I thought my mother had. Now my friends who tried to save me each time were dying. There was only one solution to this mess. It was a confrontion.

"Agent" I said softly. "I'm done hiding from my own father. I'm done being hurt by family and I'm done seeing my friends get hurt because of me. I need a way out of this endless cycle of torture. I need to see my father no matter how dangerous he is perceived to be."

There was a long moment of silence. "I thought you would say that." Agent Simmons mumbled. "And I also think it is the best solution to stop everyone's troubles. This is getting out of hand and not even the FBI can handle it. That is why you will be sent home tomorrow. It's abrupt, but this needs to stop. James arrives tonight to collect Maddox's things so you will depart with him at promptly 6 am. There is an extra ticket in this envelope in case you decide you need to take someone with you. Just understand whoever goes with you is in more danger than you are, therefore choose wisely or not at all. Good luck Ms. Morgan. Your case with the FBI is officially closed and we no longer will see you under our protection. You will not be contacted further."

After hearing that even the FBI had given up on me I took the envelope and called Mary to tell her the news. She was shocked and saddened, but she understood that I was no longer her obligation. I was all on my own, and it was dangerous if she kept in contact with me. She notified me that this ride back home would be the last time I contacted her, and my belongings would need to be gathered by morning.

The pain I felt burdened my shoulders. Everyone had just left me, I had become a lost cause in a matter of hours. My contact with everyone I had ever known was to disappear. The story was going to be that I had an emergency back in the U.S which required my immediate departure. I would also notify everyone myself through text message that I was not ever coming back. Sending the message to Max killed me. It took every piece of me to send it, tears fell down onto the screen as I typed out the news. I didn't want him to risk his life and I knew that if he found out the truth, and if he discovered that there was an extra ticket, he would insist on coming. By doing this he would be risking his life tremendously. That's why there was no way I could do it. He couldn't know because I didn't want to hurt him.

I would never hurt him again as long as I lived. That was my final promise to him, and to myself.