The mayor's blood still stained Alex's hands as paramedics carried Ethan Blake away. Clara Monroe stood in the shadows of the study, her eyes unreadable.
"You can't just show up after ten years and start talking about 'family secrets,'" Alex said sharply. "What do you know about this?"
Clara's lips curved in a bitter smile. "Enough to know that Dad wasn't the man you thought he was. And this town… it's rotten from the roots."
Before Alex could demand more, Sam entered with grim news. "Alex… we found something in the ransacked drawers." He handed over a photograph, burned at the edges.
It showed a group of men and women standing proudly in front of the Holloway Library—back in 1987. Among them: a younger Ethan Blake, Victor Kane, Father Thomas… and shockingly, Alex and Clara's father, Richard Monroe.
A Fractured Trust
Later, at the precinct, Sam slammed his fist on the desk. "This is spiraling out of control. First a body, then arson, now attempted murder on the mayor. And your sister shows up with cryptic warnings? We need facts, Alex. Not family drama."
Alex's jaw tightened. "It's all connected. Whoever's sending the letters—they're pulling strings tied back to 1987. My father's involved somehow."
Sam glared at him. "Or maybe someone's just making you think that. Don't let this cloud your judgment."
For the first time, Alex felt the crack in their partnership.
The Kanes' Secret
That evening, Alex drove to the Kane mansion again. Isabella met him at the garden gate, lighting a cigarette.
"You shouldn't be here," she whispered. "My father doesn't like visitors right now."
"Your father's on that photo," Alex said, showing her the charred picture.
Izzy's eyes widened. She glanced around before lowering her voice. "You don't understand. That group… they called themselves The Circle. They weren't just donors to the library. They controlled Ravenwood from the shadows."
"Controlled it how?" Alex pressed.
Izzy flicked ash onto the ground. "Deals. Money laundering. Even disappearances. My father was part of it. So was your father."
The words hit Alex like a blow.
From the balcony above, Victor Kane's cold voice cut through the night. "Detective Monroe, I suggest you leave. Some truths are dangerous—even for you."
Grace Holloway's Revelation
Meanwhile, Grace Holloway—the librarian who saved the ledger—met secretly with Lila Carter. She spread the scorched book across the table at the Gazette office.
"These pages survived the fire," Grace said. "They show transactions—huge sums of money funneled through the library's accounts. Some names match the people in that photo. Your detective friend's father included."
Lila's heart raced. She had always trusted Alex blindly, but this evidence… could his family really be tied to Ravenwood's corruption?
Sophie Lang, overhearing, smirked. "Looks like your golden detective isn't so spotless after all. Maybe that's the story, Carter. Not the murders—the Monroe family legacy."
Lila slammed the ledger shut. "No. Alex deserves the truth before the world does." But doubt gnawed at her.
The Betrayal
That night, Alex returned to his apartment exhausted. As he unlocked the door, he froze. The lavender scent hit him first.
On his table lay another letter.
"Trust will be your downfall. Tonight, a friend becomes your enemy."
Before Alex could react, his phone buzzed. It was Sam.
"Alex, we need to talk. Now."
Minutes later, they met at the riverside docks. Sam's face was tense, eyes darting.
"I went digging into the letters," Sam said quietly. "And I found something. The stationery—they're traced back to you. To your father's old law firm. Explain that."
Alex's stomach dropped. "What? That doesn't make sense—"
Sam stepped closer, anger flaring. "Doesn't it? Maybe you've been in this deeper than you admit. Maybe your family's pulling the strings. Maybe you're covering it up."
"Sam, you know me better than that."
But the look in Sam's eyes was no longer trust. It was suspicion.
From the shadows, someone watched—Serena Quinn, notebook in hand, smiling faintly as if everything was unfolding exactly as planned.