Chapter 29: Jake's Redemption

POV: Sheriff Jake Morrison

The bullet in my shoulder felt like fire as I woke up in the hospital.

"Don't move," Maya said, jumping up from the chair next to my bed. "The doctor said you need to stay still."

"How long have I been out?" I asked, trying to sit up.

"Two days. Jake, you almost died."

I remembered Mr. Johnson aiming his gun at Maya, and how I'd stepped in front of her without thinking. The pain in my shoulder was nothing compared to the guilt in my heart.

"Maya, I need to tell you something," I said. "About Eleanor's sins. About what I knew."

Maya's face got serious. "Jake, you don't have to—"

"Yes, I do." I looked into her eyes. "I've been lying to you. I knew Eleanor was involved in something illegal long before you came to town."

Maya sat back down slowly. "What did you know?"

"Three years ago, I starting noticing things. Teenagers missing. Families getting money from Eleanor's charity right before their kids left town. Boats coming and going at strange hours."

My voice cracked as I continued. "I should have explored. I should have called the FBI. But Eleanor's family works half this town. I was scared of what would happen if I was wrong."

"But you weren't wrong," Maya said softly.

"No, I wasn't. And kids died because I was too much of a wimp to act."

I felt tears running down my face. For three years, I'd been telling myself I was protecting the town. But really, I'd been protecting myself.

"There's more," I said. "Last year, I started secretly recording talks with Eleanor and her men. I was making a case, but I was doing it alone because I didn't know who to trust."

Maya looked surprised. "You have recordings?"

"Hidden in my house. Hours of them. Eleanor talking about moving people. Her men deciding which kids to target next." I grabbed Maya's hand. "I was planning to call the FBI the week you arrived in town."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because when you started asking questions, Eleanor got suspicious. She threatened to hurt innocent families if I didn't keep you quiet."

Maya squeezed my hand. "Jake, you were in an impossible situation."

"That's no excuse. I took an oath to protect and serve. Instead, I let thieves hurt children because I was scared."

The hospital room door opened, and Agent Collins walked in with two other FBI agents.

"Sheriff Morrison," Agent Collins said. "We need to talk."

My heart started pounding. "Am I under arrest?"

"That depends on what you tell us. We know you've been aware of Eleanor's crimes for years. The question is: were you helping her or trying to stop her?"

I looked at Maya, who nodded encouragingly.

"I was trying to stop her," I said. "But I was doing it wrong. I should have called you years ago."

Agent Collins sat down. "Tell us everything."

For the next two hours, I told them about every talk I'd overheard, every suspicious thing I'd seen, every time I'd chosen to stay quiet instead of speaking up.

"The recordings are in a safe in my bedroom closet," I said. "The combination is my mother's birthday."

Agent Collins sent an agent to get the tapes while she continued questioning me.

"Sheriff, why should we believe you weren't working with Eleanor?"

Before I could answer, Maya spoke up. "Because he took a bullet for me. Because he called the FBI when Eleanor was threatening to kill innocent people. Because he's been carrying guilt about this for years."

Agent Collins looked at Maya with interest. "You trust him?"

"With my life," Maya said without doubt.

That's when the agent returned with my tapes. Agent Collins listened to a few minutes on headphones, and her face changed.

"These recordings are incredible evidence," she said. "Sheriff, this could put dozens of criminals in prison."

I felt a tiny bit of hope. "Does this help?"

"It helps a lot. But Jake, you're still going to face an internal probe. There will be consequences for not reporting these crimes sooner."

I nodded. "I understand. I deserve whatever punishment I get."

"Actually," Agent Collins said, "there might be a way for you to make this right."

"How?"

"We need your help catching Victor Petrov. He's the man who runs the whole crime network. Your recordings name him several times."

My heart jumped. "What do you need me to do?"

"Petrov has been trying to call you for the past two days. He wants to meet with you."

Maya grabbed my arm. "Jake, that's too dangerous."

"It is dangerous," Agent Collins agreed. "But it might be our only chance to save his daughter and the other victims he's holding."

I stared at Agent Collins. "He has your daughter?"

"Emma was taken two days ago. Petrov is using her to try to stop our investigation."

I thought about Agent Collins losing her daughter, just like all the families in Millbrook Bay who'd lost their children to Eleanor's trafficking ring.

"I'll do it," I said. "Whatever you need."

"Jake, no," Maya said. "You're hurt. You almost died."

"Maya, I've spent three years being too scared to do the right thing. I won't make that mistake again."

Agent Collins looked between us. "Sheriff, if you help us catch Petrov, I'll recommend that you face administrative punishment instead of criminal charges."

"I don't care about the penalties. I just want to help save those kids."

Agent Collins's phone rang. She answered it and her face went white.

"What is it?" I asked.

"That was Petrov. He says he'll release my daughter and the other victims, but only if we make a trade."

"What kind of trade?"

Agent Collins looked at Maya with worried eyes.

"He wants Maya Chen. He says Maya is the only person who can name all of his corrupt officials. If we don't give him Maya by tomorrow night, he'll kill all the victims."

Maya stood up immediately. "Then we make the trade."

"Maya, no!" I tried to get out of bed, but the pain in my shoulder stopped me.

"Jake, those people are only in danger because of me. Because I stirred up this investigation."

Agent Collins shook her head. "Maya, if we give you to Petrov, you'll die. And he'll probably kill the victims anyway."

That's when my phone rang.

The caller ID said "Unknown Number."

When I answered, I heard a voice that made my blood freeze.

"Hello, Jake. This is your old friend Captain Rodriguez."

Rodriguez, who was thought to be dead.

"Rodriguez? But you were killed in the marina blast."

"I'm very much living, Jake. And I have something that belongs to you."

Through the phone, I could hear someone crying in the background.

It sounded like a little girl.

"Who is that?" I asked.

"Emma Collins. Agent Collins's kid. She's such a sweet child."

Agent Collins grabbed the phone from me. "Rodriguez, if you hurt my daughter—"

"I won't hurt her, Agent Collins. As long as you follow my instructions correctly."

"What instructions?"

"Bring Maya Chen to the old tower tomorrow at midnight. Come alone. No FBI help. No tricks."

"The lighthouse burned down," Agent Collins said.

"We rebuilt it. And Agent Collins? If I see even one FBI agent besides you, your daughter dies."

The phone went dead.

I looked at Maya and Agent Collins with fear in my heart.

Because I knew Rodriguez better than anyone.

And I knew he always kept his promises to kill people.