Chapter 4 - The Bait
The next morning, the house felt different. It was no longer a place of quiet despair; it was a war room.
I sat with Madeline at the breakfast table. She looked terrified, but there was a flicker of hope in her eyes that hadn't been there in weeks.
"Here is the plan, Maddie," I said, placing a small, innocuous-looking button on the table. "Marcus drove in from the city last night. This is a high-def micro-camera with a built-in transmitter. It goes on your blazer."
"You want me to meet him?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
"I need you to message Trenton," I instructed gently. "Tell him you couldn't get all the money, but you got a thousand dollars. Tell him you're terrified, and you need to give it to him in person to make sure he deletes the files. Tell him to meet you in the old chem lab after school."
Sarah grabbed Madeline's hand. "We will be right outside, honey. We will hear every word. We will not let him touch you. But we need him to confess on tape."
Madeline took a deep breath, staring at the hidden camera. For a moment, I thought she would back out. It was too much to ask of a sixteen-year-old girl.
Then, she reached out and picked up the button.
May you like
"They made me feel like I was nothing," she said, her voice finding a new strength. "Let's do it."
She sent the text. The reply came three minutes later. Old chem lab. 3:30 PM. Come alone or I press send.
