Hello, Ex! I Finally Found My Worth! - Chapter 206

Chapter 206: Tying Up Loose Ends
The police sat across from Marvis in the dimly lit interrogation room, their expressions unreadable. Marvis, though trying to put on a tough front, was clearly anxious. Hours had passed since he was brought in, and the silence was eating at him.

The detectives had tried to get him to talk but he had refused to say anything.

Detective Nolan leaned forward, his voice calm but calculated. “You know, Marvis, Vanessa’s already planning to cut you off. She’s moving her money as we speak, leaving you to take the fall.”

Marvis scoffed, but his fingers twitched. “You’re bluffing.”

Nolan smirked. “Am I? She hasn’t called you, has she? You were just a disposable tool, and now she’s running. If you don’t believe me, fine. But we just got word that she wants to pay you off—one last transaction before she vanishes.”

Marvis’s eyes flickered with doubt. The thought of Vanessa leaving him high and dry made his blood boil. He had risked everything for this job, and she owed him.

“She really said that?” he asked, falling for the lie.

Nolan nodded. “She’s been trying to reach you. We can let you call her back.”

Marvis sat in the interrogation room, arms crossed, his eyes scanning Detective Nolan’s face.

If truly they knew what Vanessa was doing and probably knew where she was, why had they not gone to arrest her? Why were they here telling him all that?

What was it for them if he truly called Vanessa? He narrowed his eyes when something else clicked.

Nothing they were saying was true. He wasn’t stupid—he knew exactly what was happening. The police wanted him to make a call, and he wasn’t about to do it for free.

“You’re lying to me right now. You don’t know if Vanessa is on the run or not. Are my correct?” he asked with a raised brow and smirked when he saw the flicker of guilt on the detective’s face.

Though it had been brief, only for a moment but he had noticed it.

“What are you talking about?” Nolan asked, feigning ignorance.

Marvis leaned back in his chair and smirked. “You think I don’t see what you’re doing? You want me to call Vanessa so you can track her. That’s the essence of the lie you’ve been spilling. Fine, I’ll do it but first, what do I get out of it?”

Nolan exchanged a glance with his partner before leaning forward. Since the guy had already figured things out, then there was no need to lie or try to trick him into making the call.

“You’re already facing serious charges, Marvis. You murdered someone. But if you help us get Vanessa, we can talk about reducing your sentence.”

Marvis snorted. “Not good enough. I want full immunity, after all, I only carried out Vanessa’s orders.”

Nolan shook his head. “Not happening. You shot someone, and you were involved in a hit. The best we can do is a lighter sentence and maybe protection.”

Marvis tapped his fingers on the table, pretending to think. “Protection, huh? And how do I know you won’t just screw me over once you have her?”

Nolan smirked. “Because we need you alive to testify. Vanessa is dangerous, and she’ll come after you the second she realizes you sold her out. Help us, and we make sure she doesn’t get that chance.”

Marvis exhaled. He knew they were right. If Vanessa found out he was in custody, she’d disappear, or worse—send someone to silence him just as she had sent him to kill someone. He was good, but not good enough to outrun her alone especially since he’d be locked up.

He rubbed his chin. “Alright. I’ll make the call. But I want a signed deal before I do.”

Nolan nodded. “Fair enough.”

Once the paperwork was done, Marvis took a deep breath and dialed Vanessa. The moment she answered, she snapped at him.

“Marvis! Where the hell have you been? I’ve been calling! Did you do it properly? I heard two gunshots, did you kill both of them?”

Marvis kept his voice steady. “Yeah. Both Emma and Jake are dead as we speak.”

There was silence before Vanessa sighed in relief. “Good. Though I only asked you to kill Emma, I’m glad and relieved you took out both Emma and Jake. I need to leave town before 8 p.m. Come get your money now. Same place as before—near the abandoned factory on Hollow Avenue Road.”

Marvis played his part well. “Alright. I’m on my way now.”

The moment the call ended, Nolan turned to his team. “We’ve got her location. Move in now.”

As officers stormed out, Marvis leaned back and smirked. “Told you I was useful,” he said but neither Nolan nor his partner spared him another glance or word before leaving him.

Away from there, Vanessa sat on the edge of the bed, methodically checking the pistol in her hands. The dim hotel room smelled of stale air and cheap furniture polish, but she barely noticed. Her mind was on the next step. The final step of her grand plan.

“Loose ends always come back to strangle you,” she muttered, snapping the gun’s chamber shut with a sharp click.

Though she had wanted to first kill Emma and send a message to Jake, she was glad he had taken out both Emma and Jake.

Now, she’d freely leave town, and never return knowing that she had carried out her revenge and those that hurt her were no longer alive.

Marvis had done her a great favor but then again, he had served his purpose. He was useful—until now. But she wasn’t stupid.

The fact that he had killed but Emma and Jake just because she casually mentioned it showed that he was very reckless, and unpredictable.

The moment he realized she was gone, what was stopping him from running his mouth for money? If he was offered a lot of money, he could sell her out to the cops, blackmail her, or worse—drag her name into Jake and Emma’s deaths. He might recklessly run his mouth and then end up getting her in trouble.

No. She had to be the one to take care of him first. She had to tie up all loose ends.

She glanced at the duffel bag sitting by the door, already packed with cash and essentials.

The plan was simple. One last meeting and one last transaction at a secluded location where she could take out Marvis once and for all.

Once Marvis was dead, there would be no one left to link her to this mess.

Grabbing the gun, she stuffed it into her bag, her pulse steady. By the time she slipped out of the hotel room and into her car, a smirk played on her lips.

“Marvis, you poor idiot,” she whispered as she started the engine. “You should have known better than to trust me.

Tonight, she would disappear without a trace. And there would be no one left to stop her. She would live a free life even though she had taken two lives. She thought as she headed to the location she was to meet with Marvis, unbeknownst to her that it was a trap.

**********

Alex sat in the hospital hallway, his elbows resting on his knees, his head bowed. The weight of Jake’s death, Emma’s grief, and the chaos of the past few hours pressed heavily on him as they waited for Margaret who was still unconscious in her hospital room.

Claire sat beside him, silently leaning against Chris, while Ivy rubbed Emma’s back in comfort. The atmosphere was thick with tension and sorrow.

Then Alex’s phone rang. The sharp sound cut through the silence, making everyone glance up. He pulled the phone out of his pocket and saw the caller ID—Detective Nolan.

His heart pounded as he answered. “Yeah?”

“Mr. Sterling, we’ve got her,” the detective said, his tone urgent. “Vanessa just gave Marvis a location to pick up his money. It’s a secluded area outside town. We’re mobilizing now.”

Alex’s grip on the phone tightened. “Are you sure it’s her?”

“Positive. We’re already headed there. This is our chance to take her down before she disappears for good.”

Alex exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I want to be there.”

“Absolutely not,” Nolan said firmly. “This could turn ugly. Stay put and let us handle it. I promise we won’t disappoint you.”

Alex clenched his jaw, glancing at Emma, who was staring at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. He knew she had heard enough to understand.

Though he wanted to be there to see Vanessa get arrested, what he wanted more was to be with his wife.

“You better make sure she doesn’t get away,” he said coldly after a moment.

“She won’t,” Nolan assured him. “I’ll call you when it’s done,” he said before ending the call.

Alex lowered the phone slowly, his pulse racing. He looked at Emma, who was still watching him, her hands gripping the edge of her chair.

“What is it?” she whispered.

He hesitated before answering. “The police… They found Vanessa.”

A silence fell over the group. Ivy sucked in a breath, Claire tensed, and Chris straightened.

Emma swallowed hard, her fingers tightening. “Are they going to arrest her? Are they sure she won’t escape or get tipped off like the last time?”

Alex nodded. “They’re on their way now. I hope they catch her for good tonight.”

No one spoke for a moment, but the weight in the air shifted. This wasn’t over yet—but it would be soon.