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The Paper Trail
Last Updated:
2025-03-12 15:03:16
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The Perfect Lie The Investigatir
Chapter 11: The Investigator.The doorbell rang again, sharp and insistent.Lena stood frozen in the doorway, her hand trembling near the doorknob. Her back was slippery with cold sweat.She wasn't ready, but she had no choice.Taking a deep breath, she cajoled her face into one of easy interest before unlocking the door and flinging it open.A man stood at the doorstep, a tall and sharply dressed man, his crisp black suit pushed back against the morning light. He was not tall for his age, but there was something that unsettled her about him-something about the way he didn't shift, like a predator waiting for just the right moment to strike.His eyes, dark and unreadable-roved over her, drinking in every detail."Mrs. Calloway?"Lena's heart skipped a beat."Yes," she said, keeping her voice steady.The man held out a hand. "Malcolm Pierce. Ethan hired me to conduct a routine security survey."Lena paused before taking his hand. His was a firm but fleeting, professional handshake."I
Last Updated : 2025-03-13The Perfect Lie The Hidden Truth
Chapter 12 The basement was colder than Lena expected. Down there, the air smelled of wet concrete and something metallic—rust or dried-up blood traces, she suspected, and shivered.Noah's flashlight cast a very long shadow on the bare concrete wall. The room was empty, yet not empty. The room was filled with metal shelves stacked high with boxes that had dates and symbols on them. There was an old workbench in the corner, covered with dust, and a priceless bottle of wine beside it.Noah closed the downstairs door softly."We don't have a lot of time," he whispered. "We have to get to work in a hurry."Lena nodded, her heart racing. Quick. Good. Sign in and out.But his gaze didn't leave the boxes.Something about them bothered him. "Noah," he said, gesturing. "What's happening?"Noah looked at the shelves and shook his head. "We can't waste time to find out what Ethan is keeping here. His office is upstairs. That is where we go." But Lena was unsure. He reached for one of the boxes
Last Updated : 2025-03-14The Perfect Lie No Safe Place
Chapter 13The forest enveloped them.Lena stumbled for air as she ran, her boots into the soggy ground and small twigs crackling under her. The fingertips of her fingertips grazed against his skin, but he barely noticed.They heard a noise behind them. The beam tore through the darkness, scything through the thick woods like a searchlight. The men would not relent.Noah stood beside her, gasping like a working man, bag to his chest. The records he had stolen - evidence of Ethan's guilt - were contained within.They had risked everything for him.Now they could barely manage. Lena ducked under a branch that hung too low, her heart pounding in her ribcage. The adrenaline was dissipating and the heat was creeping in. His shoulders bucked from the shock, his legs aching, and every nerve in his body was screaming relief.Stopping wasn't on the agenda.Noah grabbed her hand and brought her to a stop. Lena almost choked. "What the."He put a finger to his lips and stepped forward.Through t
Last Updated : 2025-03-14The Perfect Lie A Deal with the Devil
Chapter 14: A Deal with the DevilLena held a knife hidden in her thin sleeve.The doctor took another slow step forward, his bright shoes crunching on the stones of empty ground. His soldiers surrounded him; they were like silent shadows, menacing silently.Noah came closer to her, took a deep breath, and pressed his injured hand onto his chest. Blood seeped into his arm, yet he grumbled not a single word. He was also glaring at the editor in the very same way.Measure. Compute.Escape with dignity.The doctor smiled self-satisfied like a winner beforehand. "You were poor at this, Lena."Lina set back on her chin and fought to speak in a firm tone. "I have a habit of that."The doctor chuckled. "I heard that." His eyes were on the bag over Noah's shoulder. "Send it again."Lina's heart pounded the hardest.Information. They risk it all to obtain evidence.That evidence would be enough to destroy Ethan.Noah stood at his side.Lina fought to remain stationary. "And then?"The doctor s
Last Updated : 2025-03-14The Perfect Lie The Cost of Truth
Chapter 15 The Cost of TruthThe rope seared Lina's flesh, burning her hands. He opened his fingers, trying to ignore the throb in his head. Noah didn't move at all, his head down, the blood on his temple still there.The organizer's words echoed in his mind."you are not alone."It was his tone, the complete sincerity of his words, that scared her the most. Because if he was speaking the truth, then someone had been controlling events all along, and he and Noah never stood a chance.Now, they have been caught.Lina took a deep breath and brushed fear aside. No. There is always a way out.He glanced around the room. The basement was bare—a concrete wall, a ceiling light, and a door that was solid, with no switches, just a handle on the side.He toyed with the strings and attempted them. Tough. Firm. But don't break it. He glanced at Noah.They needed him to wake up."Hey," he whispered, straining his voice. "Noah."He didn't stir.He gritted his teeth and kicked the chair leg. There i
Last Updated : 2025-03-14The Perfect Lie The Hourglass Runs Out
Chapter 16 The silence in the basement felt heavier than the steel door slamming shut behind them.Lena stared at the vacant space where Ethan had been mere seconds before, her mind spinning. One hour. That was all they had. Sixty minutes to decide between enforced disappearance or death.Noah stepped beside her, attempting the restraints again. "This is bad.""God," Lena breathed, her heart thudding against the inside of her ribcage.Noah exhaled sharply. "Files were bait. We were used from the start."Lena clenched her teeth. She had known she was playing, but to realize they'd never been in control? That stung.She rested back her head, breathing deep into it. Hold on. Do not freak."I'm not quitting," she stated.Noah dry-laughed. "Yeah, well, that makes two of us. But how do you plan on fighting back when we're tied to chairs in a locked room?"Lena tugged at the ropes, wincing as they dug deeper into her wrists. She'd escaped worse predicaments before—perhaps not exactly like t
Last Updated : 2025-03-15The Perfect Lie The Chase Begins
Chapter 17 The roar of the SUV's engine shattered the quiet of the alley, its headlights cutting through the darkness like two blades of light.Lena barely had time to respond when Noah dragged her along, and they both took off in a wild sprint."Move!"The SUV lurched ahead, tires screeching on the pavement.Lena's lungs were on fire as she strained her legs with all her might, her heart thundering in her chest. She heard the growly rumble of the car behind them, bearing down fast.They had seconds. Maybe fewer."Left, Noah!" he swung suddenly to the left, pulling Lena with him as they dodged between two great dumpsters and into a dark alleyway.The SUV sped by the alleyway entrance, tires screaming as the driver jammed on the brakes.Lena took a breath. "They've spotted us."Noah swore. "We need to get off the road."Lena scanned the surroundings. The alley was dead-ended, surrounded by a chain-link fence lined with razor wire.There was one door to their right, rusty and slightly
Last Updated : 2025-03-15The Perfect Lie The Ghost from the Past
Chapter 18 The city lay before them, infinite and unforgiving. Shadows stretched long under trembling streetlights, the air thick with the distant scent of rain and gasoline.Lena and Noah ran.Steps rang out behind them—closer than she would have liked.Damien wouldn't give up. He was a ghost from her past, resurrected just when she'd begun to believe she was finally free.She was breathing fast, her heart racing in her chest. "We need cover."Noah glanced down the street. "There."There was a neon-lit motel at the end of the block, and the old sign crackled weakly in the night air.They sprinted across the street, avoiding a screeching car, and dived into the alley beside the motel.Noah pressed his back against the wall, gun still gripped tight in his hand. He glanced at Lena. “You okay?”Lena wiped the sweat from her brow. “I’ve been better.”A flicker of something passed over Noah’s face, but he said nothing.Lena peeked around the corner.Damien and his men had stopped at the i
Last Updated : 2025-03-15
Latest chapter
The Perfect Lie The Ghost from the Past
Chapter 18 The city lay before them, infinite and unforgiving. Shadows stretched long under trembling streetlights, the air thick with the distant scent of rain and gasoline.Lena and Noah ran.Steps rang out behind them—closer than she would have liked.Damien wouldn't give up. He was a ghost from her past, resurrected just when she'd begun to believe she was finally free.She was breathing fast, her heart racing in her chest. "We need cover."Noah glanced down the street. "There."There was a neon-lit motel at the end of the block, and the old sign crackled weakly in the night air.They sprinted across the street, avoiding a screeching car, and dived into the alley beside the motel.Noah pressed his back against the wall, gun still gripped tight in his hand. He glanced at Lena. “You okay?”Lena wiped the sweat from her brow. “I’ve been better.”A flicker of something passed over Noah’s face, but he said nothing.Lena peeked around the corner.Damien and his men had stopped at the i
The Perfect Lie The Chase Begins
Chapter 17 The roar of the SUV's engine shattered the quiet of the alley, its headlights cutting through the darkness like two blades of light.Lena barely had time to respond when Noah dragged her along, and they both took off in a wild sprint."Move!"The SUV lurched ahead, tires screeching on the pavement.Lena's lungs were on fire as she strained her legs with all her might, her heart thundering in her chest. She heard the growly rumble of the car behind them, bearing down fast.They had seconds. Maybe fewer."Left, Noah!" he swung suddenly to the left, pulling Lena with him as they dodged between two great dumpsters and into a dark alleyway.The SUV sped by the alleyway entrance, tires screaming as the driver jammed on the brakes.Lena took a breath. "They've spotted us."Noah swore. "We need to get off the road."Lena scanned the surroundings. The alley was dead-ended, surrounded by a chain-link fence lined with razor wire.There was one door to their right, rusty and slightly
The Perfect Lie The Hourglass Runs Out
Chapter 16 The silence in the basement felt heavier than the steel door slamming shut behind them.Lena stared at the vacant space where Ethan had been mere seconds before, her mind spinning. One hour. That was all they had. Sixty minutes to decide between enforced disappearance or death.Noah stepped beside her, attempting the restraints again. "This is bad.""God," Lena breathed, her heart thudding against the inside of her ribcage.Noah exhaled sharply. "Files were bait. We were used from the start."Lena clenched her teeth. She had known she was playing, but to realize they'd never been in control? That stung.She rested back her head, breathing deep into it. Hold on. Do not freak."I'm not quitting," she stated.Noah dry-laughed. "Yeah, well, that makes two of us. But how do you plan on fighting back when we're tied to chairs in a locked room?"Lena tugged at the ropes, wincing as they dug deeper into her wrists. She'd escaped worse predicaments before—perhaps not exactly like t
The Perfect Lie The Cost of Truth
Chapter 15 The Cost of TruthThe rope seared Lina's flesh, burning her hands. He opened his fingers, trying to ignore the throb in his head. Noah didn't move at all, his head down, the blood on his temple still there.The organizer's words echoed in his mind."you are not alone."It was his tone, the complete sincerity of his words, that scared her the most. Because if he was speaking the truth, then someone had been controlling events all along, and he and Noah never stood a chance.Now, they have been caught.Lina took a deep breath and brushed fear aside. No. There is always a way out.He glanced around the room. The basement was bare—a concrete wall, a ceiling light, and a door that was solid, with no switches, just a handle on the side.He toyed with the strings and attempted them. Tough. Firm. But don't break it. He glanced at Noah.They needed him to wake up."Hey," he whispered, straining his voice. "Noah."He didn't stir.He gritted his teeth and kicked the chair leg. There i
The Perfect Lie A Deal with the Devil
Chapter 14: A Deal with the DevilLena held a knife hidden in her thin sleeve.The doctor took another slow step forward, his bright shoes crunching on the stones of empty ground. His soldiers surrounded him; they were like silent shadows, menacing silently.Noah came closer to her, took a deep breath, and pressed his injured hand onto his chest. Blood seeped into his arm, yet he grumbled not a single word. He was also glaring at the editor in the very same way.Measure. Compute.Escape with dignity.The doctor smiled self-satisfied like a winner beforehand. "You were poor at this, Lena."Lina set back on her chin and fought to speak in a firm tone. "I have a habit of that."The doctor chuckled. "I heard that." His eyes were on the bag over Noah's shoulder. "Send it again."Lina's heart pounded the hardest.Information. They risk it all to obtain evidence.That evidence would be enough to destroy Ethan.Noah stood at his side.Lina fought to remain stationary. "And then?"The doctor s
The Perfect Lie No Safe Place
Chapter 13The forest enveloped them.Lena stumbled for air as she ran, her boots into the soggy ground and small twigs crackling under her. The fingertips of her fingertips grazed against his skin, but he barely noticed.They heard a noise behind them. The beam tore through the darkness, scything through the thick woods like a searchlight. The men would not relent.Noah stood beside her, gasping like a working man, bag to his chest. The records he had stolen - evidence of Ethan's guilt - were contained within.They had risked everything for him.Now they could barely manage. Lena ducked under a branch that hung too low, her heart pounding in her ribcage. The adrenaline was dissipating and the heat was creeping in. His shoulders bucked from the shock, his legs aching, and every nerve in his body was screaming relief.Stopping wasn't on the agenda.Noah grabbed her hand and brought her to a stop. Lena almost choked. "What the."He put a finger to his lips and stepped forward.Through t
The Perfect Lie The Hidden Truth
Chapter 12 The basement was colder than Lena expected. Down there, the air smelled of wet concrete and something metallic—rust or dried-up blood traces, she suspected, and shivered.Noah's flashlight cast a very long shadow on the bare concrete wall. The room was empty, yet not empty. The room was filled with metal shelves stacked high with boxes that had dates and symbols on them. There was an old workbench in the corner, covered with dust, and a priceless bottle of wine beside it.Noah closed the downstairs door softly."We don't have a lot of time," he whispered. "We have to get to work in a hurry."Lena nodded, her heart racing. Quick. Good. Sign in and out.But his gaze didn't leave the boxes.Something about them bothered him. "Noah," he said, gesturing. "What's happening?"Noah looked at the shelves and shook his head. "We can't waste time to find out what Ethan is keeping here. His office is upstairs. That is where we go." But Lena was unsure. He reached for one of the boxes
The Perfect Lie The Investigatir
Chapter 11: The Investigator.The doorbell rang again, sharp and insistent.Lena stood frozen in the doorway, her hand trembling near the doorknob. Her back was slippery with cold sweat.She wasn't ready, but she had no choice.Taking a deep breath, she cajoled her face into one of easy interest before unlocking the door and flinging it open.A man stood at the doorstep, a tall and sharply dressed man, his crisp black suit pushed back against the morning light. He was not tall for his age, but there was something that unsettled her about him-something about the way he didn't shift, like a predator waiting for just the right moment to strike.His eyes, dark and unreadable-roved over her, drinking in every detail."Mrs. Calloway?"Lena's heart skipped a beat."Yes," she said, keeping her voice steady.The man held out a hand. "Malcolm Pierce. Ethan hired me to conduct a routine security survey."Lena paused before taking his hand. His was a firm but fleeting, professional handshake."I
The Perfect Lie The Paper Trail
Chapter 10The door slammed shut with a click, the sound echoing through the stillness of the house like a gunshot.Lena's heart pounded against the inside of her head as she gripped the creased, folded square of paper in her hand. Her fingers, slippery with sweat, were curled hard around it, the thin sheet of paper folding at the least pressure.Motionless behind her stood Ethan, a looming presence like a shadow."Wrong address, huh?"Lena forced herself to turn around, her face carefully serene. "Yeah," she murmured, stuffing the note into her sweater pocket. "He was confused."Ethan didn't react. Didn't move.But she felt that small tension in his jaw, the tightening of his fingers at his side.Lena knew him too well. She knew he didn't believe her."You should've let me reply," Ethan finally said, voice smooth, trained. "Strangers on our porch this late at night. It's not safe."The threat was there, woven into the worry.Lena gulped. "I didn't think it mattered."Ethan studied he
