CHAIN OF TRUTH

CHAPTER XIV

Agatha nodded. "Yes. It's clear now. The fire, the smoke—I was in this room. Alex wasn't lying about leaving someone behind. That someone was me. This doll... I wasn't ready to leave without it, and in my search, I got trapped. My mother had already escaped, but I kept calling through the windows. The smoke overwhelmed me, and I passed out. When I woke up, I was in the hospital with no memory of what happened. My mind must have blocked it out."

She held the doll close, tears welling up in her eyes. "Mom never spoke about it, and now I understand why." Enola, processing this, asked softly, "What now?" Agatha walked to the side wall, touching it gently. "There's more here. Alex left clues, and this room is a part of it. We need to uncover whatever she hid here."

The crew began a meticulous search of the room. Enola and Copper started moving furniture while Edwin examined the walls for hidden compartments. Agatha, still holding the doll, felt a sense of urgency. "Look for anything that seems out of place," Agatha directed, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. Hours passed, and just when frustration was setting in, Copper called out, "I've got something!"

They gathered around as Copper pried open a loose floorboard, revealing a small, concealed compartment. Inside was a metal box, covered in dust and soot. Agatha carefully opened it, revealing a trove of documents and a flash drive. The documents were detailed records of the Syndicate's operations, implicating high-profile figures and exposing their darkest secrets. "This is it," Agatha said, her voice trembling with a mix of triumph and dread. "This is the evidence we need to bring down the Syndicate."

Enola grabbed the flash drive. "We need to get this back to the station, analyze it immediately." Agatha nodded, still holding the doll close. "And we need to find Alex. She's the key to all of this. She's out there, and she knows we're closing in."

As they prepared to leave, Agatha took one last look at the room. "This ends now. For Jake, for my mother, and for everyone who suffered because of the Syndicate." The crew walked out, their resolve stronger than ever. They had the evidence, but the real battle was just beginning. Alex Anderson was still out there, and the final confrontation was inevitable. The air was thick with anticipation and the promise of justice long overdue.

The crew returned to their hideout, a heavy silence hanging in the air. Jane and Juliet eyed Copper and Melba, ensuring Melba understood who was in control. Agatha stormed in, tossing the charred doll at Melba. "This all began long ago, didn't it?" Melba stared at the burned doll, her voice barely a whisper. "I was never part of the blast. Trust me."

Agatha's fists clenched, ready to lash out, but Enola intervened, urging her to wait outside. As Agatha moved to the door, Juliet's grin widened. "How does it feel, Agatha? To be helpless even when you know all the bad things happening around you. The law was never going to save the right people. It's always going to be like this, whether you like it or not." Agatha glanced back at Melba, then walked out, knowing Juliet had a point. Standing outside, she waited, frustration boiling inside her. Moments later, Copper appeared with a laptop, a triumphant look on his face.

Agatha stopped her before she entered. "What is it? Did you find something?"

Copper glanced around cautiously, then moved closer to show her the laptop. Agatha's eyes widened in shock. "Are you sure? We can't get this wrong." Copper nodded firmly. Together, they walked back inside, where Enola was still interrogating Melba.