His Billion-Dollar Secret

Chapter 8

"FBI! Open the door!"

Agent Jason Cross stood outside the Barker mansion with six other agents. The police had called him after receiving reports of screaming from the house. When he heard the address, he knew it was connected to his investigation of Stephen Winchestar.

Leonard opened the door. "Agent Cross, thank you for coming so quickly."

"Where's Jayce Walker?"

"In the living room with Rose Barker. She's been screaming for the past ten minutes, claiming we're holding her hostage."

Jason walked into the living room to find Rose sitting on the couch, crying dramatically. Hailey sat across from her, looking disgusted. Jayce stood by the window, calm as always.

"Mrs. Barker, I'm Agent Jason Cross with the FBI. Are you being held here against your will?"

"Yes! These people won't let me leave! They're accusing me of terrible things!" Rose pointed at Jayce. "That man is dangerous! He threatened me!"

"Is this true, Mr. Walker?"

"No, Agent Cross. Rose is free to leave anytime she wants. But before she does, I think you should hear what we discovered." Jayce handed Jason a folder. "Bank records showing payments from Stephen Winchestar to Rose Barker over the past ten years. The most recent payment was three days ago. Fifty thousand dollars."

Jason looked through the papers, his eyebrows raising. "Mrs. Barker, can you explain these payments?"

"They're... they're business investments! Stephen and my late husband were partners!"

"Strange business investment that only goes one way." Jason pulled out another paper. "According to these records, you never paid him back or invested in his company. You just took the money."

"So what? That doesn't prove anything!"

"Actually, it proves a lot when combined with this." Jayce played the security video on his phone, showing Rose and Stephen at his parents' house ten years ago. "That's you unlocking the back door. That's you helping Stephen trap my parents inside a burning building."

Rose's face went from white to red. "That video could be fake! Anyone can edit videos these days!"

"Not this one," Jason said quietly. He had been watching the video carefully. "I recognize that security camera. It's from the Miller residence across the street. The FBI confiscated that footage ten years ago during our investigation into your husband's death, Mrs. Barker."

"My husband's death?" Rose looked confused now.

"Yes. Robert Barker didn't die from a heart attack like everyone thinks. He was poisoned. We've been investigating his death for years, but we could never prove who did it." Jason looked directly at Rose. "Until now. Because the same account that paid you also paid several other people that year. Including a doctor who falsified the autopsy report."

The room went silent. Hailey stood up slowly, her face full of horror.

"Mother, did you... did you kill Dad?"

"No! No, I loved your father!"

"Then why did Stephen pay you after he died?" Hailey's voice was shaking. "Why would he give you money unless you did something for him?"

Rose started crying harder, real tears this time. "You don't understand! Your father was going to ruin everything! He found out about my deal with Stephen, and he threatened to tell the police! He was going to divorce me and leave me with nothing!"

"So you killed him," Jayce said flatly.

"I didn't! Stephen did! I just... I just told Stephen about the problem, and he said he would handle it!" Rose looked at Hailey with desperate eyes. "I didn't know he was going to kill him! I thought he would just talk to him or pay him off!"

"But you took the money anyway," Jason said. "Money paid to you after your husband's convenient death. That makes you an accessory to murder, Mrs. Barker."

"No! You can't prove that! I didn't know!"

"Actually, we can prove it." Jason pulled out handcuffs. "Rose Barker, you're under arrest for conspiracy to commit murder, accessory to murder, and fraud. You have the right to remain silent..."

As Jason read Rose her rights, Hailey collapsed into a chair, sobbing. Jayce sat beside her and held her hand.

"My mother killed my father," Hailey whispered. "And she helped kill your parents too. How can I ever forgive this?"

"You don't have to forgive her," Jayce said gently. "Some things can't be forgiven. But you can choose not to let her evil destroy your own life. You're not her, Hailey. You're better than she ever was."

"But I was so much like her! I was mean and cruel and—"

"And you changed. When you learned the truth, you chose to be different. That's what matters." Jayce squeezed her hand. "Your mother made her choices. Now you get to make yours."

Outside, more FBI agents were arriving. Jason came back into the room after putting Rose in a police car.

"We're going to need statements from both of you," he said. "And Jayce, I need to talk to you about Stephen Winchestar. He's more dangerous than we thought."

"What do you mean?"

"We've been tracking his movements. He's not working alone anymore. He's partnered with April Zhang from Zhang Pharmaceuticals. Together, they're planning something big."

"April Zhang?" Jayce frowned. "What does she want with Stephen?"

"Your healing techniques. She wants to turn them into drugs she can sell for billions. And Stephen wants revenge on you. They made a deal. He helps her get your secrets, and she helps him destroy you."

"When are they making their move?"

Jason checked his watch. "According to our intel, Stephen is coming here at noon like he promised. But it's a trap. He's bringing twenty armed men with him. He's planning to kidnap you and force you to teach April your techniques. If you refuse, he'll hurt people you care about until you agree."

Hailey gasped. "That's in two hours!"

"We need to evacuate everyone from this house," Jason said. "My team will set up here and arrest Stephen when he arrives."

"No," Jayce stood up. "If Stephen sees FBI agents, he'll run. We'll never catch him, and he'll just try again later. We need to let him think he's winning."

"That's too dangerous."

"I have a better plan." Jayce pulled out his phone and called Leonard. "Get everyone ready. It's time to activate Phoenix Legacy."