Chapter 18 - Sloane Had to Face the People She RobbedSloane took a plea deal.
Not immunity.
Not a magical disappearance of consequences because she helped expose Marshall.
She pleaded guilty to conspiracy and theft-related charges connected to multiple motorcycle robberies.
Her cooperation reduced the sentence significantly.
She also agreed to restitution.
Carter thought that mattered.
Sloane thought it was terrifying.
“I don't have the money.”
“You have some.”
“My savings are mostly from crime.”
“Then they won't be savings much longer.”
“You're enjoying this.”
“A little.”
She glared.
Tessa sat nearby.
Their relationship remained fragile.
Tessa wanted to help pay restitution.
Sloane refused.
“You already lost fourteen years.”
“That wasn't your fault.”
“Neither is my robbery record your bill.”
Tessa smiled faintly.
“That sounded responsible.”
“Don't ruin it.”
Ivy visited under supervision.
She loved Sloane almost immediately.
Mostly because Sloane let her swear once when Tessa wasn't listening.
Tessa heard anyway.
“You're a terrible influence.”
“I’m the criminal aunt.”
Ivy laughed.
That title stuck.
Then Sloane had to meet one of her victims through a restorative-justice process she voluntarily requested.
His name was Franklin Webb.
Sixty-three.
Retired mechanic.
Sloane’s crew had stolen his custom Triumph eight months earlier.
It was never recovered.
She sat across from him.
No fake pregnancy.
No leader persona.
No excuses.
“I’m sorry.”
Franklin stared.
“You sold it?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“I don't know now.”
“That bike was my son’s.”
Sloane’s face changed.
“He died?”
“Afghanistan.”
Silence.
“I rode it because it was the last thing we built together.”
Sloane covered her mouth.
Carter watched from the back with permission.
The irony hurt.
Sloane had nearly stolen Lucas’s motorcycle from Carter—
a bike tied to his dead brother.
She had already stolen exactly that kind of grief from someone else.
Franklin continued.
“You people thought it was worth money.”
Sloane whispered:
“Yes.”
“It wasn't.”
“I know now.”
“No.”
He leaned forward.
“You know because it happened to you.”
That landed.
Sloane nodded.
“Yes.”
Franklin didn't forgive her.
Not then.
He gave investigators enough details to trace where the motorcycle had gone.
Months later it was recovered from a collector who had purchased it unknowingly through false paperwork.
Franklin got it back.
When Sloane heard, she cried.
Tessa asked why.
“Because something came home.”
Tessa understood.
Not everything did.
Lucas never would.
The years between Sloane and Tessa never would.
Carter’s trust in Marshall never would.
But some things could return changed.
Marshall was indicted on racketeering, corruption, extortion, kidnapping conspiracy, obstruction, financial crimes, and charges tied to Lucas’s death.
Evan Rourke faced separate charges and eventually cooperated against him.
Jonathan lost his law license and accepted his own plea.
Paige faced penalties for misusing company funds but avoided prison after proving extortion and cooperating.
Daniel returned profits connected to corrupt property acquisitions into a restitution fund.
He and Paige nearly divorced.
They didn't.
Not immediately.
They started therapy.
Carter asked Paige why she stayed.
She answered:
“Because I haven't decided.”
He nodded.
Good answer.
Helen began counseling too.
For the first time she talked openly about Lucas.
Not Saint Lucas.
Real Lucas.
Reckless.
Funny.
Stubborn.
Sometimes cruel when angry.
Always loyal.
Carter found that comforting.
The dead didn't need polishing.
One evening Helen gave Carter a box.
“What?”
“Lucas’s things.”
“I thought I had them.”
“You had what I gave you.”
Of course.
Inside were notebooks.
Concert tickets.
An old pocketknife.
And a cassette.
Carter raised an eyebrow.
“Another recording?”
“No.”
“Thank God.”
“It’s music.”
Lucas had made Carter a mixtape when Carter turned eighteen.
Carter laughed.
He remembered.
They listened.
Terrible rock songs.
Some blues.
One country track Lucas pretended to hate.
Helen cried.
Carter did too.
Halfway through, a tiny voice interrupted.
Lucas had accidentally recorded over part.
“Carter, stop stealing my bike.”
Carter laughed so hard he had to pause.
Then Lucas:
“When you're old enough, I'll give you the ugly one.”
Carter looked outside at the restored Harley.
“You liar.”
Helen smiled.
Later, Carter rode alone.
Not because anyone ordered him.
Because he chose to.
River Road felt different.
He stopped where Sloane had stood with the fake belly.
The broken streetlight had been repaired.
Traffic moved normally.
No ambush.
No hidden men.
He thought about the message:
HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ALONE.
Marshall had depended on isolation.
Elias alone with fear.
Tessa alone with witness protection.
Sloane alone with abandonment.
Daniel alone with blackmail.
Samuel alone with shame.
Paige alone with guilt.
Every secret became stronger when one person carried it.
Mina had ruined the plan simply by following Carter.
By refusing to let him be alone.
He smiled.
Then headlights approached.
Mina pulled beside him in her car.
Window down.
“You're impossible.”
“You followed me again.”
“Yes.”
“I’m not on a case.”
“History suggests that means nothing.”
Carter laughed.
May you like
For once—
he was glad not to be alone.
