Chapter 2 - The Setup
The interrogation room was freezing cold and smelled like stale coffee.
A tired detective tossed a thick manila folder onto the metal table.
"You have been a very busy girl, Ava," the detective said.
He opened the folder to reveal dozens of glossy photographs.
The pictures clearly showed someone with my exact face cashing massive checks at various banks.
"That is not me," I said with absolute certainty.
The detective tapped a high-resolution photo of the suspect looking directly at a security camera.
"She is wearing your favorite jacket and your unique necklace," he pointed out.
I felt a sickening wave of realization wash over me.
Brandon had used my stolen grandmother's money to hire a professional lookalike.
He had orchestrated this entire frame-up months in advance just in case I ever caught him.
"My family set me up to protect my brother," I pleaded.
The detective sighed heavily and closed the heavy folder.
"Save it for your public defender," he muttered before walking out.
I sat alone for three agonizing hours.
Finally, a young woman in a sharp suit walked into the room.
"I am Chloe, your court-appointed attorney," she said briskly.
I recognized her instantly as Brandon's most recent ex-girlfriend.
"You dated my brother," I gasped in shock.
Chloe locked the door and pulled a cheap burner phone from her pocket.
"I am not a lawyer, Ava," Chloe whispered urgently.
May you like
She slid the untraceable phone across the metal table.
"Brandon is in debt to a dangerous underground syndicate, and they are coming to kill you next," she warned.
