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

The Shop's

he was caught up in something he didn't ask

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been. Once inside the dege, I to the police had taken control, Officers were investigating, looking around.

the floor was stained

Netion reached an agreement, giving us permission to

the floor made me nauseous. Carter's

werely injured, the fight had

"Where's Captain Turker? tasked.

the basement,

there? What's the

few words. You'll get it

followed us down the hidden passage. Just as I expected, the entrance

air was thick with a musty, rotten scent, mixed with the overpowering smell of blood. The last time I was here, I

expression full of

though

the place

of the paths. "Yes, the room I went to

my steps as I walked down the familiar

heart beat. My palms

worry, Carter said gently, patting the back of

I stepped inside, I was hit by the sight of the stone bed

body lying here," I said.

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

Damian, wearing gloves, opened a nearby cabinet. It was filled with sharp

2/4

09:16 Fri, Dec 13

310 The

of them made my tears fall

must've... dismembered me in this room. Skinning

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eyes narrowed as he studied the assortment of tools. His anger was evident, and his

stood motionless beside him, his gaze icy and

place." I said, Trying to steady my voice, "it might hold

this was only one. I wiped

find out soon enough," Carter

next room, and

been bare and unfinished. But this one was something

equipment-machines of all sizes, an operating table, and tools that looked more advanced than any I had seen in