The voice turned cold, all pretense of civility dropping away. "Methods that involve your roommate Rachel. Your partner Alex Russo. Your Captain Webb. Everyone you've involved in this investigation. We'll eliminate them systematically, carefully, and in ways that can never be traced back to us. And you'll spend the rest of your life knowing that your stubbornness killed people you care about."
The threat was delivered calmly, matter-of-factly, like discussing a minor operational detail.
"Come to the wellness center at noon," the voice continued. "Come alone, or don't come at all. But understand that this is your only opportunity to save Carmen Delgado before it's too late. This is your only chance to end this investigation on your terms rather than mine. You have ninety minutes to decide whether you're a detective who solves cases or a martyr who dies for them."
The line went dead.
Sarah stood frozen, phone clutched in her hand, trying to process. Someone from Meridian possibly Dr. Chen himself had just called her directly. Offered information. Threatened everyone she cared about. And invited her to a meeting that was almost certainly a trap.
"Don't even think about it," Alex said immediately, reading her expression. "That's exactly how people disappear. You walk into that building, and you're never seen again."
"Or I walk into that building and get the evidence we need to save Carmen Delgado and expose this network." Sarah replayed the conversation in her mind. "He said I could find answers. That he'd tell me what happened to Maria Martinez. What if he's serious?"
"What if he's luring you into a location where he can drug you with INA protocol and add you to his collection?" Alex's voice was urgent, almost angry. "Sarah, think about this. They've been eliminating everyone who gets close to the truth Jennifer Walsh, the Westlake pharmacist, Detective Pierce. What makes you think you're different?"
"Because I'm not dead yet." Sarah pulled out her phone, texting Captain Webb: Received call from someone at Meridian. Male voice, educated, possibly Dr. Chen himself. Invited me to wellness center at Oakwood Ave, noon today. Claims he can provide information about missing women and Maria Martinez's death. Recording attached. Possible trap, possible breakthrough. What's your advice?
She attached the audio file Alex had captured and sent it, then looked at him directly. "I need to go."
"That's insane."
"This entire case is insane." Sarah checked her watch 11:03 AM. Fifty-seven minutes until the meeting. "But if there's even a chance he's telling the truth, if Carmen Delgado is alive and I can save her, I have to try."
"By walking into an obvious trap?"
"By taking a calculated risk with proper backup and insurance." Sarah's mind was already working through contingencies. "You'll be my backup. Stay outside, watch the entrance, monitor communications. If I don't come out within thirty minutes, you call Webb and tell him everything. Then you go to the Tribune with all our evidence and blow this whole thing wide open."
"Thirty minutes isn't enough time"
"It's enough time to have a conversation. If they wanted me dead immediately, they would have just killed me. They wouldn't invite me to a meeting." Sarah started walking toward her car, Alex following. "This is someone offering me options cooperate, back off, or die. Which means they still think I can be controlled or eliminated through negotiation rather than violence."
"That's a lot of assumptions based on one phone call from someone who explicitly threatened to kill everyone you know."
"I know." Sarah stopped at her car, turning to face him fully. "But Alex, we're already planning to break into that nursing home tonight with no backup and no legal authority. This isn't any more dangerous than that it's just different timing."
Alex looked like he wanted to argue, but he couldn't. They were both already committed to actions that could get them killed. The only question was which calculated risk to take first.
"Fine," he said finally. "But I'm not staying in the car. I'm going inside that building with you."
"They said come alone."
"They also said unarmed, and I'm guessing you're bringing at least two weapons even though you turned in your service pistol." Alex's expression was implacable. "I'll hang back, stay out of sight, but I'm not letting you walk into that building without someone who can pull you out if it goes wrong."
Sarah wanted to argue, but the truth was having backup felt necessary. Vital, even. "Okay. But you stay invisible until I signal otherwise."
"Agreed."
Sarah checked her phone. Webb had responded: DO NOT GO ALONE. This has all the hallmarks of an elimination strategy. If you insist on going, I'm sending backup. Give me 15 minutes.
Sarah typed back: No time. Meeting's in 55 minutes. If you send backup, they'll know and call it off. I need to hear what they have to say.
Webb's response came immediately: Then you're making a mistake that might get you killed.
Probably. But it might also break this case wide open.
Stubborn as hell, Morrison. Always have been. A pause, then another message: Take the burner phone I gave you. Keep the line open so I can monitor. If anything goes wrong, I'm sending everyone.
Sarah typed: Thank you, Captain.
Don't thank me yet. Just don't get yourself killed.
She pocketed her phone and looked at Alex. "We have fifty-three minutes. Show me that nursing home location first I need to know what we're dealing with if we have to execute plan B tonight."
"And plan A is walking into a trap at the wellness center?"
"Plan A is gathering intelligence and seeing what they're really offering." Sarah started her car. "But plan B breaking into that nursing home and getting hard evidence that's still on the table if this meeting doesn't give us what we need."
They drove in tense silence through morning traffic, both of them processing. Sarah's phone buzzed with another text from Rachel: I looked up your work number. They said you're on administrative leave. Sarah, what the hell is going on?
Sarah's stomach clenched. Rachel was digging, asking questions, doing exactly what Sarah had hoped she wouldn't do. Which meant she was potentially putting herself at risk.
I'll explain everything tonight. Please trust me.
I do trust you. That's why I'm worried. Whatever you're involved in, please be careful.
I will. I promise.
Sarah silenced her phone, unable to handle more messages from people she cared about telling her to be careful when she was about to walk into what might be the most dangerous situation of her career.
They reached the neighborhood where the former nursing home stood. Alex directed her to a vacant lot two blocks north, partially obscured by overgrown trees. From this vantage point, they had a clear view of the building.
Sarah pulled out binoculars, studying the structure. Three stories, shabby exterior suggesting abandonment, but subtle signs of occupancy newer security cameras, maintained fence line, tire tracks in the gravel driveway. The first floor windows were boarded, but the second floor showed curtains in several windows. The third floor was dark except for one corner room.
As she watched, a vehicle pulled up dark sedan, tinted windows. A man got out security guard, based on his uniform and entered through the main entrance. Sarah checked her watch: 11:17 AM. If Alex's guard schedule was accurate, this was the end of the morning shift.
Seven minutes later, another vehicle arrived. Different guard, same routine. The first guard exited, got in his vehicle, and left.
Seven minutes. That was their window.
"You were right," Sarah said, lowering the binoculars. "This is where they're holding them."
"I know." Alex's voice was quiet, controlled. "So what do we do? Go in tonight as planned, or try to use whatever we learn at the wellness center to get official support?"
Sarah thought about that. If the person who'd called was legitimate, if they really were offering information, maybe there was a way to solve this without breaking in. Maybe there was someone inside Meridian willing to defect, to provide evidence that could bring the whole network down.
But if it was a trap, if she walked into that building and never walked out, then Alex would have to execute the nursing home infiltration alone. And that increased his chances of being caught or killed exponentially.
"New plan," Sarah said, making a decision. "I go to the wellness center meeting. You continue surveillance here. If I don't check in by 1:00 PM, you assume I've been captured or killed. At that point, you call Webb, give him everything, and let him bring in the cavalry."
"And if you do check in?"
"Then we compare notes and decide whether we're breaking into this place tonight or working with whoever reached out to me." Sarah handed him the keys to her car. "But either way, Carmen Delgado and those other women are getting out. Tonight, tomorrow, or the next day we're ending this."
Alex took the keys, his expression showing both respect and concern. "You know this is probably going to get us both killed, right?"
"Probably." Sarah checked her watch 11:24 AM. Thirty-six minutes until the meeting. "But at least we'll die doing something that matters. That's better than most people get."
She pulled out her phone, composing a message to Rachel: I love you. You're the best friend I've ever had. If anything happens to me, know that what I'm doing is important and necessary. Don't blame yourself.
Her thumb hovered over the send button. Sending this would terrify Rachel, would make everything real and final. But not sending it would mean Rachel never knew how much she mattered.
Sarah sent the message.
Rachel's response came within seconds: SARAH MORRISON WHAT THE HELL IS HAPPENING. CALL ME RIGHT NOW.
Can't talk. I'll explain later. Just… take care of yourself.
If you die I'm going to kill you myself. I swear to god Sarah be careful.
Sarah allowed herself a small smile despite the fear churning in her stomach. I'll try. Talk soon.
She handed the binoculars to Alex, gathered her minimal belongings phone, wallet, the burner phone Webb had given her months ago for exactly this kind of situation and started walking toward the main road where she could catch a bus to the wellness center.
"Sarah?" Alex called after her.
She turned.
"Don't trust anything they tell you. Whatever they offer, whatever they promise it's manipulation. They want you compliant or dead. Those are the only two options that serve their interests."
"I know." Sarah gave him a look that said everything she couldn't put into words gratitude, fear, determination, and the grim understanding that they were both probably about to die for this case. "But maybe, if I'm lucky and smart and careful, I can create a third option."
Then she turned and walked away, leaving Alex to maintain surveillance while she headed toward what was almost certainly a trap.
The bus ride to Oakwood Avenue took twenty-three minutes. Sarah spent it reviewing everything she knew, everything she'd theorized, everything she still needed to confirm. The INA protocol. The nursing home. The shell companies. Dr. Robert Chen and his network of wellness centers. Sentinel Security Services. The pattern of missing women. Maria Martinez's posed body.
All the pieces were there. She just needed to figure out how they fit together.
The bus stopped a block from the wellness center. Sarah got off, taking a moment to observe the building from across the street. It looked benign modern architecture, professional landscaping, large windows suggesting transparency and openness. A steady stream of patients entered and exited. Staff members moved through the parking lot. Everything appeared normal