Chapter Twelve

"Marla?" I repeated, the name catching in my throat. My mind reeled, trying to reconcile the kind, warm woman who had been nothing but supportive with the image of a traitor. "There must be some mistake."

"There's no mistake," Rex said, his tone cold and detached. "Grayson traced the communications directly to her. She's been feeding Jane information for weeks."

I sank into the nearest chair, my legs suddenly unable to hold me. Marla had been one of the few people in the house who made me feel at ease. How could she betray us like this?

"What do we do now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"She's still in the house," Rex said, his jaw tightening. "Grayson's team is watching her. We'll confront her tonight."

The hours leading up to the confrontation felt like an eternity. I stayed in my room, too shaken to face anyone, replaying every interaction I'd ever had with Marla. Had I missed the signs? Were there moments that should have tipped me off?

By the time the sun set, I was more anxious than ever. Rex came to get me, his expression unreadable. "Are you ready?" he asked.

"Do I have a choice?" I replied, standing on shaky legs.

We found Marla in the kitchen, tidying up after dinner. She looked up and smiled when she saw us, but her smile faltered when she noticed the serious expressions on our faces.

"Mr. and Mrs. Go," she said, her tone hesitant. "Is something wrong?"

Rex didn't waste time. "You tell me, Marla. Care to explain your connection to Jane Walter?"

Her eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought she might deny it. But then her shoulders slumped, and she let out a long sigh.

"I didn't want it to come to this," she said quietly.

"Come to what?" I demanded, stepping forward. "Marla, why would you do this? I trusted you!"

She turned to me, her expression filled with regret. "Sarah, it's not what you think. Jane reached out to me weeks ago, offering money in exchange for information. She told me it was harmless, that it was just for a story. I didn't realize how far she'd take it."

"So you sold us out for money?" Rex's voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a knife.

"It wasn't just about the money," Marla said, tears welling in her eyes. "She threatened me. She said if I didn't cooperate, she'd ruin my family. I didn't know what else to do."

I felt a pang of sympathy, but it was quickly overshadowed by anger. "You should have come to us. We could have helped you!"

Marla shook her head. "I didn't think you'd believe me. And by the time I realized how serious this was, it was too late. She had too much on me."

Rex crossed his arms, his expression cold. "Do you have proof of her threats?"

Marla nodded quickly. "Yes. I saved the messages she sent me. I'll give you everything." "Good," Rex said. "Because if you're lying, you'll regret it."

After Marla handed over her phone, Rex called Grayson to review the evidence. The messages were damning, filled with threats and demands from Jane.

"Looks like she's telling the truth," Grayson said after scanning the messages. "Jane manipulated her, but that doesn't excuse her actions."

"What do we do now?" I asked.

Rex looked at Grayson, his jaw tight. "Get Jane on record. Use Marla as bait if you have to. I want this over with."

The next morning, Marla met with Jane in a public café, wearing a wire provided by Grayson's team. Rex and I waited in the car parked across the street, listening to the conversation through an earpiece.

"I told you to keep a low profile," Jane hissed, her voice sharp even through the audio feed.

"I'm doing my best," Marla said, her voice trembling. "But it's getting harder to hide this from them. They're suspicious."

"They won't find out unless you tell them," Jane snapped. "Stick to the plan, and you'll get your money." "And what about your end of the deal?" Marla asked. "You promised you wouldn't hurt anyone."

Jane laughed, a cold, hollow sound. "Oh, Marla. Don't be naive. Sometimes, a little damage is necessary to get what I want."

My stomach churned as I listened to her, the sheer malice in her voice making my skin crawl.

When the meeting ended, Grayson's team intercepted Jane as she left the café. She was furious, her protests echoing through the earpiece as they escorted her to a waiting car.

"Let me go!" she screamed. "You have no right to detain me!"

Grayson's calm voice cut through the chaos. "We have plenty of reasons, Ms. Walter. And once the police see the evidence, so will they."

Back at the mansion, Rex and I sat in the living room, trying to process everything that had happened. "Is it really over?" I asked, my voice shaky.

Rex nodded. "Jane's been handed over to the authorities. With the evidence we have, she won't be able to talk her way out of this."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding, relief washing over me. But it was bittersweet. "What about Marla?" I asked.

"She's cooperating fully," Rex said. "Grayson believes her story, but I've made it clear that she won't be working here anymore."

I nodded, understanding his decision. As much as I wanted to forgive Marla, her betrayal was too fresh.

That night, as I lay in bed, I finally felt a sense of peace. Jane was gone, and the threat hanging over us had been lifted. But as I stared at the ceiling, I couldn't help but wonder if this was truly the end... or just the

beginning of something new.

Cliffhanger: Jane is in custody, but has Sarah's nightmare really ended, or is there more trouble waiting in the shadows?