It Started With a Heist

Chapter 19

JAKE

With a yawn, I pushed open the office doors. The early morning light filtered through the windows, illuminating the empty desks.

My mind buzzed with thoughts. The wedding was only a week away, and the to-do list seemed endless. I had to finalize my best-man speech and perfect the plans for Luke's bachelor party. I wanted everything to be flawless for Luke and Chloe.

And if I was being totally honest with myself, there was another reason I was eager for the wedding. I hadn't seen Emma in ages, not since her job interviews took over her life. And well, it took me a while to admit how much I missed her.

Sipping the espresso I grabbed from Cora's coffee shop, I couldn't help but smile as memories of our first meeting washed over me.

A part of me wondered if I was truly ready for a relationship—if I was prepared for that kind of commitment. And I wasn't sure if Emma was either, especially after she shared her fears about love and getting hurt with me.

Yet, from the moment we met, I couldn't get her out of my mind. She was like a fire that burned brighter than any I had ever known. Her presence filled my world with warmth and energy, making me feel alive in ways I hadn't in years. It was exhilarating and a little terrifying, this undeniable pull I felt toward her.

Still, I was content with taking things slow and seeing where they led. Perhaps we would find our way together, one step at a time.

As for the case, I made an effort to set it aside and focus on the simpler ones for a while. I needed to clear my mind and be fully present for Luke's wedding. And maybe, when I returned to the case, I would spot something I had missed before.

Setting my coffee cup next to a stack of papers, I settled behind my desk and began my daily routine: a quick scan of the latest news updates followed by a dive into the sea of emails.

Among the usual flood of updates, reports, and spam, one email stood out. Its subject line, "URGENT," was blunt and unsettling.

I frowned, my hand hovering over the mouse. Anonymous tips were nothing new, but this one felt different. My gut churned with a mix of caution and curiosity as I hovered over the email, debating whether to open it.

Finally, curiosity won. I clicked on the email, and as the contents loaded, my eyes widened, and my heart raced. Attached were several documents, photos, and videos, all focused on one person: Saverio Vitale.

I opened the first document, my pulse quickening as I scanned through detailed financial records linking Vitale to money laundering and fraud. The next file contained grainy but unmistakable footage of Vitale in meetings with known criminals.

Each new file only deepened my astonishment. The evidence was staggering and meticulously detailed. I felt a surge of adrenaline—this could be the breakthrough we needed.

Without a second thought, I bolted from my desk and weaved through the bullpen and up the stairs to my boss' office. He was always the first to arrive, and I knew he was already there.

Without knocking, I burst in. "Sir, you need to see this."

Michael Ashford looked up from his computer screen, a mix of shock and curiosity crossing his face. I suspected my sudden entrance wasn't the only thing causing this reaction.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before responding. "Take a seat, Parker."

I sat down opposite him, sensing that I wasn't the only one with news to share.

"From your reaction, I take it you've received the same email," Ashford said.

I arched an eyebrow. "The one about Vitale?"