Even after Her Death by Rita Bond

Chapter 310 The Shop's Secret

Behind Carter, police officers were setting up a perimeter, indicating something serious had occurred ar the shop:

I couldn't help but feel uneasy as I glanced at him. "Is it okay for me to be here?"

"Don't worry. All the cameras have been turned off."

That reassured me. He wouldn't put me at risk.

"You should've been inside. It's freezing out here."

I just wanted to see you sooner. He offered a soft smile.

For a brief moment, almost forgot how he used to be Why had I once thought of him as so frightening?

I gently pushed him toward the door. "What happened today?"

"I had some people stir up trouble at the shop. As soon as they heard we might call the police, they tried to pay to make it go away. But when money didn't work, one of them shut the place down."

I stopped in my tracks. "They were planning to force their way in?"

"Yes. A bunch of thugs, really. They didn't expect us to be prepared. We had backup waiting outside, and when the scuffle started, they ran into the underground tunnel."

I'd figured out where the tunnel was, but now I worried. With so many people around, I feared the decoy might have gotten into trouble.

100

"Did anyone get hurt?" I asked, anxiety rising. I had only wanted to cause a bit of a stir, not out of hand.

Carter's face grew dark. My stomach twisted. "What happened?"

things get

"They're badly injured. They meant to scare them, but the situation escalated. They broke into a secret underground base. If that secret leaks, the whole shop is done for. That's why they never planned to let anyone leave today. "Do you remember the guy who used to fix our cars? He stepped in to protect them. He got hurt, but at least he's alive."

I remembered him well. I'd added him on WhatsApp, chatted with him a few times.

He hadn't been at the shop long, so he likely didn't know anything too important.

I'd gone through his posts. He was a cheerful guy, came from a small town in the mountains to support his family. He had a younger sister who was excelling in school.

He was kind too. When he couldn't afford to buy food for stray cats, he'd give them half-of his lunch.

1had always liked him. The first time I met him, his bright personality reminded me of a little sun. 1/4

210 The

he was caught up

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could imagine how dangerous it must have been. Once inside the dege, I to the police had taken control, Officers were investigating,

barricades everywhere, and the floor

agreement, giving us permission

on the floor made me nauseous.

they were werely injured, the fight

"Where's Captain Turker? tasked.

the basement, Carter

down there? What's

to explain in just a few words.

I expected, the entrance was right in front

air was thick with a musty, rotten scent, mixed with

expression full

replied, though my

this the place

the paths. "Yes, the room I

my steps as I walked down the familiar

got, the harder my heart beat. My palms

said gently, patting the back of my

to the room was already open. As I stepped inside, I was hit by the sight of the stone bed in the middle of the room-it was

body lying here," I said. "This

a man with dark skin enter. They were talking about...

gloves, opened a nearby

2/4

09:16 Fri, Dec 13

The Shop's

of them made my

me in this

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as he studied the assortment of tools. His anger was evident, and his hands clenched into

him,

to steady my voice, "it

and this was only one. I wiped away my tears quickly. "What's in the

find out soon

stepped into the next room, and the sight left me

bare and unfinished.

an operating table, and tools that looked more advanced than