Henry Owens stepped back, his face twisting with satisfaction as he watched Carter's reaction.
"You were asking the right questions, Detective," Henry said, almost too calmly. "But the problem is, you don't understand the rules of the game. And neither did I, until I realized that Sheriff Meadows had always been my closest ally."
Carter turned to Sheriff Meadows, his eyes widening in disbelief. The sheriff, who had always been a fixture in Oak Ridge, was standing there, eyes cold, his posture rigid. And then, the truth hit him—Meadows had been too helpful from the start. He had always been there, orchestrating the searches, directing the investigations, guiding the town, as if he were pulling the strings all along.
The sheriff's smile was slow and chilling. "You've been chasing shadows, Carter. And now, you're the last piece of the puzzle."
Carter's world seemed to crumble as he understood. Sheriff Meadows had been behind the disappearances of Max and Cody, the manipulations, the killings. He had been playing the game all along. As the leader of the Oak Ridge Historical Society, he was the true successor to Blackwood's twisted legacy.
And now, Carter was the final move.
The sheriff stepped forward, his hand reaching into his jacket. "You see, Detective, the game is about control. Life, death, who gets to live and who gets to die. We've been preparing for this moment for years. You were never meant to win."
Carter didn't have time to think. He reached for his gun, but before he could draw it, the sheriff fired.
YOU ARE READING
Gwen's Cold Blood Murders
Mystery / ThrillerHe was a killer-cold, calculating, and without remorse. Two innocent lives were cut short by his hand: one a 13-year-old child, the other only 14. The horrific act left the community shattered and searching for answers. But what happens to a man lik...
