Chapter 40 The Alliance Forged
CAITLYN'S POV
I sat in my car in the hospital parking lot staring at Detective Rourke's business card. My hands were still shaking from our conversation. He wanted me to spy on Collin, to gather evidence, to help him build a case that could finally take down my husband.
But if Collin found out he would kill me. He would actually kill me and probably make it look like an accident.
My phone buzzed with a text from Collin. "Where are you? You should be home by now."
I typed back quickly. "Just leaving the hospital. Be home soon."
I needed to decide right now. Either I helped Detective Rourke or I went back to that house and pretended everything was fine until Collin figured out the truth about the baby and killed me anyway.
Those were my only two options and neither of them felt safe.
I pulled out my old phone and dialed the number on Rourke's card. He answered on the second ring.
"Mrs Hayes," he said. "I was hoping you would call."
"I need to know something first," I said. "If I help, will you really be able to protect my baby and me?"
"Yes," Rourke said without hesitation. "I have safe houses set up. Resources that Collin is not aware of. When the time comes I can get you out and keep you hidden."
"When the time comes," I repeated. "What does that mean?"
"It means we need to build a solid case first," Rourke explained. "Right now all I have is circumstantial evidence and witness statements that could be discredited. I require hard evidence, including documents and recordings. Things that cannot be explained away by expensive lawyers."
"And you think I can get that?" I asked.
"You live in his house," Rourke said. "You see and hear things. You have access to places I could never get to, yes I think you can get it."
I closed my eyes and tried to think. This was insane. I was pregnant, trapped, and terrified. How was I supposed to spy on someone as dangerous as Collin?
"What about the documents my father left?" I asked. "The safety deposit box you mentioned. Isn't that enough?"
"It is a start," Rourke said. "But we need more. We need current evidence of active crimes. Things that prove Collin is still involved in the organization, that is what will put him away for good."
"How am I supposed to get that without him noticing?" I asked.
"Very carefully," Rourke said. "We will set up a secure way for you to communicate with me. A way that Collin cannot track or monitor and you will document anything suspicious you see or hear."
"He tracks my phone," I said. "He knows everywhere I go and everyone I talk to."
"Which is why we are not using your regular phone," Rourke said. "Do you have another phone? One he does not know about?"
I thought about my old phone hidden in my closet. "Yes."
"Good," Rourke said. "That is what we will use. But we need to set it up properly so even if Collin finds it he cannot trace the communications back to me."
"How do we do that?" I asked.
"Meet me tomorrow afternoon," Rourke said. "I will give you a new SIM card with an encrypted number. You put it in your old phone and only use it to contact me. Delete all messages after you send them. Never save my number in your contacts and only call or text when you are absolutely sure Collin is not watching."
"That sounds complicated," I said.
"It is," Rourke admitted. "But it is the only way to keep you safe. Collin has resources, he has people who can hack phones and trace calls. We need to be smarter than him."
I felt overwhelmed. This was so much more than I thought it would be. "What if I mess up? What if he catches me?"
"Then you tell him you were talking to a friend or a doctor or anyone but me," Rourke said. "You lie, you make up a story. You do whatever it takes to protect yourself."
"I am not good at lying," I said quietly.
"Then you better get good at it fast," Rourke said and his voice was not unkind, just honest. "Because if you want to survive this, you are going to have to lie every single day to Collin and his staff. To everyone."
He was right. I had already been lying for months about the baby, about Jason, and about everything. What were a few more lies if it meant staying alive?
"Okay," I finally said. "I will do it. I will help you."
"Good," Rourke said. "Meet me tomorrow at two PM at the coffee shop on Fifth Street. Not the one near your house. The one downtown, come alone and make sure no one follows you."
"How do I make sure no one follows me?" I asked.
"Drive around for a while before you get there," Rourke said. "Take random turns, watch your mirrors. If you see the same car behind you for more than a few blocks then abort the meeting and go home."
This sounded like something from a spy movie. But I guess that was what I was now. I was a spy working against my own husband.
"What about the safety deposit box?" I asked. "When do I get access to that?"
"Soon," Rourke said. "But first we need to set up secure communication. Then we will figure out the best time for you to access the box without raising suspicion."
"Collin is already suspicious," I said. "He asked me about Jason. He thinks something is going on between us."
"Is there?" Rourke asked.
"No," I lied. Well, it was not really a lie, nothing was going on between us now. Just one night months ago that had ruined my entire life.
"Good," Rourke said. "Because any connection to Jason Cross right now would be very dangerous for you. Collin sees him as an enemy. If he thought you were involved with Cross in any way, he would not hesitate to hurt you."
"I know," I said. "Jason already tried to talk to me. I told him to stay away."
"Smart," Rourke said. "Keep it that way. The less contact you have with Cross the better."
We talked for a few more minutes about logistics and safety precautions. Rourke gave me a list of things to watch for, meetings Collin had at the house. Phone calls he took in private. Any mention of names like Dimitri Volkov or other organization members. Documents I might be able to photograph. Anything that could help build the case.
"Remember," Rourke said before we hung up. "Your safety comes first. Do not take unnecessary risks; if something feels too dangerous, then do not do it. We will find another way."
"Okay," I said.
"And Mrs Hayes?" Rourke added. "Thank you for doing this. I know it is not easy but you are helping to stop a very dangerous man. That takes courage."
I did not feel courageous. I felt terrified but I thanked him anyway and hung up.
I sat in my car for a few more minutes trying to calm down. Then I started the engine and drove home. Collin's security guy was still following me in his black SUV. He had been there the whole time I was on
The phone, but he could not hear what I was saying from inside his car. At least I hoped he could not.