Chapter 7 - The Perfume in Sarah’s House
The perfume belonged to Catherine Vale.
Sarah’s closest friend.
For fifteen years, Catherine had been present at birthdays, holidays, and every anniversary of Daniel’s death.
She helped Sarah raise Maya.
She possessed a key to their house.
She knew where Sarah stored old military equipment.
She also served on the Vance Foundation’s medical advisory board.
Sarah did not see Catherine in the ballroom.
But her name appeared on the guest list.
Maya whispered this while the doctor checked her pulse.
“She was upstairs.”
Sarah refused to believe it immediately.
“Are you certain?”
“I heard her.”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“You should tell her.”
Sarah turned toward him.
Adrian admitted Catherine had been part of Blackout.
Not as an operative.
As a confidential medical contact who treated agents without creating hospital records.
After the safe-house attack, Catherine disappeared from the operation.
Sarah later met her under what seemed like accidental circumstances.
It had never been accidental.
Catherine had remained close to monitor whether Sarah remembered anything dangerous.
Elias began moving toward a side exit.
Sarah stopped him.
“Where is she?”
“I don’t control Catherine.”
Adrian laughed bitterly.
“No. You fear her.”
Elias’s expression confirmed it.
The private doctor supporting Maya announced that Maya needed hospital care.
Sarah refused any facility owned by Sterling Health.
The doctor nodded.
“My team can stabilize her here for ten minutes.”
Jonathan shouted that no one could hold the guests.
Sarah lifted the storage device.
“The doors open when I know who drugged my daughter.”
A woman stepped from behind the balcony curtain.
Catherine.
Elegant silver gown.
Dark hair swept back.
No panic.
She descended the staircase slowly.
“Sarah, Maya needs treatment.”
Sarah’s hand moved toward her sidearm but did not draw it.
Catherine stopped at the bottom step.
“I didn’t drug her.”
“Then who did?”
Catherine looked at Jonathan.
The Sterling heir’s confidence vanished.
His own family had used him as the visible villain.
And Catherine was about to reveal why.
May you like
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