Page 208 of The Silent Note

“What? Zanefoughtthem? He told me all the intruder did was snoop around.”

“I guess he didn’t want you to worry.”

My heart is about to crack my ribs with how hard it’s pounding.

“Destroying the flash drive was an impulsive move. Which is very on brand for Zane. But even after all that, he was still dedicated to keeping you off the investigation and brokering a deal.”

Another lightbulb goes off.

“The boxes! I was wondering why I couldn’t find any documents that would expose The Grateful Project. I even had pictures of some of the files, but they weren’t in the crates you gave me.”

“Zane has all the important documents at the house. He wanted you occupied with looking through those files for a while.”

“You were stalling me.” I let out a shocked breath.

“Let’s be impressed in the car. The men in black are still staring.” Finn juts his chin at the vehicle.

I climb inside, grappling with all the new revelations. “Wait, you said earlier that it was Zane’s plan to negotiate for the names. This,” I shake the folder, “isn’t the first time you’ve seen this list?”

Finn gives me a knowing look. “I saw you reading Jinx’s app earlier. Didn’t you notice anything out of the ordinary?”

I scratch my chin.

And then it clicks.

I rush back to Jinx’s app. Scrolling through the news stories, I find what I’m looking for.

Conner Moheti-hedge fund manager:nudes exposed, marriage destroyed, lost half his fortune to a divorce

Seranbi Vitalagi - senate lobbyist: charged with embezzlement fraud and removed from office

The names go on and on.

Jinx’s political reports line up perfectly with all the names on the list.

My eyes hurl over to Finn. “You’re working with Jinx?”

“More like we’re working for her,” Finn mumbles.

My heart burns with a sweet hit of relief. I thought justice would be delayed and that I’d only be satisfied with knowing the truth. I thought death would come before the people involved with The Grateful Project were punished.

“Where is Zane now?” I breathe out.

“Working on the last name.”

I scrunch my nose in confusion. “How is he working on the last name when it was just revealed?”

“I’ll let him answer that himself.” Finn checks the rearview mirror. “What you need to know is that he saved the last name for you. I was to come pick up the folder alone and then talk to you about all this, but I thought you wouldn’t believe if you didn’t see it for yourself.”

“Thank you, Finn.”

He drives, focused on the road as if this is nothing.

I touch his shoulder, hammering in my point. “You’re entering a very dark world. The Grateful Project was the tip of the iceberg and yet, investigating that was enough to break me.” I think of all the visions of Sloane. “Justice isn’t easy. Neither is vengeance. You don’t want to get lost in one or the other.”

He glances at me and then away. Quietly, he says, “I plan to take down the organization, but first I need to take over the business. In the process… I can’t be a nice guy.”

“It’s alright. I became a monster to hunt monsters too.”

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