CHAIN OF TRUTH

CHAPTER XII

After shifting both Jane and Juliet to a secret location without anyone else knowing, not even the officers, the crew headed to find the real Newbie. They were halfway there when Agatha called for a stop. "Wait. If we go to her right now, it could just be a dead end and all the information we are looking for might get destroyed. I feel like we should bring this Syndicate group down first if we want everything under control. I say let's head back to our hideout. What do you think?"

The crew exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. Agatha walked into the chief's office to report the situation. The chief listened intently; his expression serious. He got up, picking an old file from a back cupboard and handed it to her. "I know only you can do this. I've been working on these monsters for a very long time, but when I realized I was getting nowhere, I started giving up. But this information—every bit of it—is true to the core. I give you full charge of this case, Agatha. Show me my son was not wrong about you."

Agatha took the file, her eyes misting. "I promise, in Jake's name, I will pull them down from the highest points of this city, even if I have to open the gates of hell." The officers thanked Agatha as she walked down the station, her resolve solidified.

She met eyes with Officer Barnes, who gave her a wicked smile. Agatha didn't hesitate, confronting him about the crimes he had committed over the years, including the murder of Jake. Barnes, unflinching, interrupted her. "What I did was just lend a hand in making this city, but I am not as bad as the Kill Out Killer who murdered more than six people in a closed factory and is still at large. I hope you catch up with her."

Agatha's blood ran cold at the mention of the Kill Out Killer. She knew that Barnes was taunting her, but she wouldn't be deterred. "Your time will come, Barnes. The Syndicate, the Kill Out Killer, all of it—we're bringing you all down."

Barnes sneered. "Good luck, Agatha. You'll need it."

Ignoring his taunt, Agatha re-joined the crew, who were waiting for her with steely determination in their eyes. They drove to their hideout, a secure location away from prying eyes. The hideout was a rundown warehouse, seemingly abandoned but equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication systems inside.

Gathered around a table strewn with maps and dossiers, they began formulating their plan. "We need to hit the Syndicate where it hurts," Copper said. "Cut off their resources, expose their operations."

Agatha nodded, spreading out the contents of the file the chief had given her. "We've got names, locations, transaction records—everything we need to dismantle their network. But we need to act fast and coordinated." Juliet, still under guard but listening intently, spoke up. "I can help. I know their weaknesses, their blind spots."

Chris looked skeptical. "How can we trust you?" Juliet's eyes flashed with determination. "Because I want them taken down as much as you do. They took everything from me. Let me help you end this." After a tense moment, Agatha nodded. "We use every resource we have. If Juliet can help, we let her. But we keep her under close watch."

Agatha took a deep breath, collecting herself. "Alright, everyone, let's bring all the crime reports and data we have regarding the Syndicate. We need to see the full scope of their operations and the crimes they've been committing across the city." The crew sprang into action. Chris pulled up the digital records on a large monitor while Copper and Edwin gathered the physical files, stacking them high on the table. The room buzzed with a sense of urgency and determination.