Chapter 18: "Old Friends, New Foes"*

Marie sat on the edge of her bed, phone in hand, staring at the number she had dialed a dozen times before but never felt the hesitation she felt now. Her old boss at the FBI, Special Agent Jameson, had always been supportive of her, even after the attack that ended her career with the Bureau. They had kept in touch occasionally, though not often enough for her liking. But now, the stakes were higher. If she was right about the conspiracy happening in Peach Creek, she'd need more than just her instincts and the Eds' help. She needed someone with real power.

She hit "call," her heart pounding in her chest as the line rang. After a few moments, there was a click, and a familiar voice answered.

"Marie Kanker. Long time no hear. How's life treating you in small-town law enforcement?" Jameson's voice was deep, reassuring, the kind of voice that carried authority without needing to raise in volume.

Marie tried to smile, but the weight of everything made it difficult. "It's been... complicated, sir. I need to ask you about an old friend of yours. Sheriff Langley."

There was a pause on the other end, and Marie could picture Jameson leaning back in his chair, his mind already turning over the possibilities. "Sheriff Langley? Yeah, we go way back to college. Haven't spoken to him much in recent years, though, only when I asked him to accept your transfer. What's this about?"

Marie leaned back against her headboard, closing her eyes as she spoke. "I'm not sure where to begin. There's something happening here. People are going missing—prostitutes, the homeless—and the bodies that have been found are brutalized beyond belief. But Langley's been dismissive, writing them off as unrelated incidents, and he's blocking every effort I make to connect the dots. It's not just incompetence, sir. It feels like something bigger. Like he's deliberately standing in my way."

Jameson was silent for a moment, considering her words. "Are you saying you think Langley is involved?"

Marie shook her head, even though he couldn't see her. "I don't know. But I do know he's not being honest with me, and it feels personal. I thought maybe you'd have some insight"

Jameson sighed. "Langley was always a straight shooter, but people change, especially when power gets involved and the world is progressing more than you're willing to accept—I'm sure his views on women are well known to you by now. It's possible he's gotten in over his head, Marie. And if he's part of something bigger, we might need to bring in federal resources."

"That's what I was afraid of," Marie admitted. "But I don't have enough proof yet. Just suspicions."

"You've always had good instincts, Marie," Jameson said, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. "If your gut is telling you something's off, I believe you."

Marie nodded, her throat tight. "I've been keeping an eye on the city council, too. Kevin, you remember him?"

"Yeah, the golden boy. Kevin Barr, right? Came from money, always had ambition."

"That's the one. He's been meeting with Langley a lot lately. I've been keeping tabs on him with some help. We're starting to uncover connections—shell companies, property around town he's hiding. It's all too suspicious."

Jameson's voice hardened. "Sounds like you're onto something big. But be careful, Marie. If this runs deep, you're going to be dealing with people who won't hesitate to protect themselves."

Marie took a deep breath, staring out her window into the quiet streets of Peach Creek. The town looked so innocent, so untouched by the darkness she knew was lurking just beneath the surface. "I'll be careful. But I can't let this go. Too many people are suffering, and no one else is willing to do anything."

"I know you won't," Jameson said. "Listen, keep me in the loop. If you need federal backing, I'll pull strings. But until then, keep gathering evidence. Don't tip your hand too early."

"I won't," Marie promised, feeling the weight of his trust. "Thank you, sir."

"Stay safe, Marie. You know where to find me if things go south."

She hung up the phone, feeling a strange mix of relief and dread. Knowing she had Jameson on her side gave her a sense of security, but it also solidified what she already suspected. This wasn't just some local crime ring; there were people in power working to keep this hidden.

She sat on the bed for a few more moments, letting the conversation sink in. The truth was starting to take shape, but the pieces weren't fitting together yet. Kevin, Langley, the masked men—it all pointed to something bigger.

But now she had a lifeline. If things went bad, Jameson would be there. That was enough for now.

Marie stood up, pacing the room, her thoughts racing. She had to keep moving forward, keep digging. And as much as she wanted to protect the Eds—especially Edd—they were already in this too deep to turn back now.

She grabbed her jacket and headed for the door. There was still work to do.