Chapter 10 - The Detective's Double Life
Lily stared at the photograph until the edges blurred.
Ruiz looked younger, but there was no mistaking her. She stood between the Castellano brothers, one hand resting on Matteo's shoulder.
"She was working with them," Lily whispered.
Elena shook her head. "Not exactly. Ruiz was an undercover investigator. She was building a case."
"Then why is she in the picture?"
"Because she was close enough to get inside."
A door slammed somewhere above them.
Elena grabbed the case. "We need to leave."
Lily took the photograph. "Why didn't she tell me?"
"Maybe she didn't know who you were."
Footsteps came down the corridor.
Elena pulled Lily into a storage alcove. A flashlight beam moved across the wall. Two men passed without looking inside.
When they were gone, Elena whispered, "There's more. The ledger doesn't just name the people who moved the children. It names the people who paid to keep them hidden."
Lily opened the case again. Several pages were marked with red tabs. Names from city government. A hospital administrator. A judge. A police captain.
And one name circled twice.
Dana Ruiz.
"She was undercover," Lily said.
"Or she was bought."
A phone vibrated in Lily's pocket. It was a number she didn't recognize.
A message appeared.
DON'T TRUST ELENA. SHE SOLD YOUR MOTHER OUT.
Lily looked up.
May you like
Elena's expression had changed. Her hand was inside her coat.
"Give me the case, sweetheart," she said.
