Chapter 8: The Corrupt Heart

The police station was a hive of activity, the hum of voices and the incessant beeping of radios creating a cacophony that usually grounded Jayden. But today, the familiar sounds were lost on him, his mind still reeling from the meeting with the informant and the revelation about Yve Sinclair.

He stood in front of the whiteboard, the list of names staring back at him like a collection of suspects. Yve's name stood out, a stark reminder of the woman he had once trusted. But now, everything he thought he knew was called into question.

"Captain Williams," a voice broke through his thoughts. Jayden turned to see Zac approaching, a file in his hand. "I've been going over the case files, looking for any connections to Yve Sinclair."

Jayden nodded, his eyes returning to the whiteboard. "Anything?"

Zac sighed, flipping open the file to reveal a series of documents. "Nothing concrete, but there are a few things that don't add up. For one, Yve's background check was never fully completed. And there are several instances where evidence related to her cases was... misplaced."

Jayden's His brow furrowed, his mind racing. "Someone's been covering for her. But why?"

Zac shook his head, his expression grim. "I don't know. But if Yve is involved in this, if she's been playing us all this time... it changes everything."

Jayden's thoughts turned to Samara, to the last time they spoke, her voice filled with fear and desperation. He had dismissed her, accused her of lying. Now, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had made a terrible mistake.

"I need to see her file," he said abruptly, turning on his heel and striding towards the archives. Zac followed, his footsteps echoing in the sterile hallway.

The archives were a maze of shelves and boxes, a testament to the countless cases the station had handled over the years. Jayden moved through the rows, his eyes scanning the labels until he found what he was looking for.

Samara's file was thin, a fact that didn't escape him. He pulled it from the shelf, his hands shaking as he opened it. The first page was a summary of her statement, her claims of being pregnant and his dismissal of her.

His heart sank as he read her words, the pain and betrayal in them palpable. He had been so blind, so caught up in his own anger and hurt that he hadn't seen the truth right in front of him.

He flipped through the pages, his eyes catching on a report from the hospital. It was a confirmation of her pregnancy, the date stamping it as recent. His breath caught as he read it, the reality of it hitting him like a punch to the gut.

"She was telling the truth," he whispered, the words barely audible. "I... I didn't believe her."

Zac placed a hand on his shoulder, his voice gentle. "Jayden, we all have moments of doubt, of fear. But now is not the time for self-recrimination. Now is the time for action."

Jayden nodded, his eyes hardening with determination. "You're right. We need to find her, Zac. We need to bring her home."

He closed the file, the decision made. He would find Samara, and he would make things right. But first, he needed to confront Yve, to find out the truth once and for all.