Chapter 509

Luke, noticing my confusion, explained, "Before I handed the evidence to the police, Stephen came to me. He said he'd secured crucial evidence before Joey could destroy it. When Joey couldn't find the burner phone she'd used, she panicked. While searching, she learned I'd been to her hospital room and assumed I'd taken it."

"At first, when Stephen told me this, I thought it was a coincidence. Now I realize that when she called to invite me to her room, she had already set the stage, placing the evidence right under my nose for me to find."

"I had an important call come in, so I answered while entering her room. Seeing she wasn't there, I left. By chance, the evidence fell into Stephen's hands. Knowing the kidnapping case would eventually lead to Joey, and not wanting her to get in trouble, Stephen came to me about the evidence."

"Stephen is so devoted to Joey!" I exclaimed, thinking Stephen must owe Joey a huge debt to be so loyal.

This incident had lowered my opinion of Stephen.