A Reckoning of Wrongs

By Meredith S. Hunter

In the shadow-draped streets of a city where secrets and lies intertwine, "A Reckoning of Wrongs" unveils the gripping tale of Eve Carlisle, a former detective turned podcaster, whose quest for truth pulls her into the depths of a conspiracy far beyond her imagination. After receiving a cryptic message about the cold case murder of Meredith Sawyer, Eve, alongside Jason Pierce, a tenacious journalist, embarks on a perilous journey to unravel a web of deceit spun by powerful forces determined to keep their sinister machinations hidden.

 

With each step closer to the truth, they encounter Zed, a mysterious hacker armed with a digital key capable of unlocking the darkest secrets of the elite and exposing the corruption that festers at the heart of society. As Eve and Jason navigate through the labyrinth of danger and betrayal, they must confront their own pasts, challenge their moral boundaries, and fight against an enemy who always seems to be one step ahead.

 

"A Reckoning of Wrongs" is a thrilling odyssey of justice, courage, and relentless determination, inviting readers into a world where the pursuit of truth demands the highest price, and the cost of silence is even greater. Prepare to be ensnared in a story where every revelation leads to more questions, and the only way out is through.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alinda
• Release date: Mar 29, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224637621

Book preview

A Reckoning Of Wrongs

Shadows Of Justice In a World Unseen

Meredith S. Hunter

Copyright © 2024 by Meredith S. Hunter

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

Contents

1.The Echoes of the Past

2.An Unlikely Alliance

3.Secrets and Lies

4.The Hacker’s Code

5.Shadows of Doubt

6.The Podcast Revelation

7.Dangerous Liaisons

8.The Price of Justice

9.The Reckoning

10.A New Beginning

1

The Echoes of the Past

The sun had barely begun to peek through the curtains of Eve Carlisle’s modest apartment when the shrill ring of her phone pierced the early morning silence. Groggily, she reached for the device, squinting at the unknown number on the screen. Hello? she answered, her voice still heavy with sleep.

Is this Eve Carlisle, the host of ‘Secrets Unbound’? The voice on the other end was distorted, as if the caller was using a voice modulator.

Eve sat up, suddenly alert. Yes, this is she. Who’s calling?

I have information about the Meredith Sawyer case, the one you’ve been investigating. But I can’t talk for long. They might be listening. The caller’s tone was urgent, tinged with fear.

What kind of information? Eve asked, her heart racing. The Meredith Sawyer case had been her obsession for the past few months, a decade-old murder that bore striking similarities to the one that had ended her career as a homicide detective.

Evidence that was never brought to light, evidence that could change everything. But you need to be careful. This goes deeper than you realize, and the people involved will stop at nothing to keep the truth buried.

Eve’s mind was reeling. Who are you? How do you know all this?

I can’t say more now. But if you want the truth, meet me at the old abandoned factory on the outskirts of town, tonight at midnight. Come alone and make sure you’re not followed. The line went dead, leaving Eve with a growing sense of unease.

She stared at the phone in her hand, trying to process what had just happened. An anonymous tip, a mysterious informant, and a warning of danger - it was like something out of a crime novel. But Eve knew all too well that the reality of investigating cold cases was far less glamorous and far more treacherous.

Eve glanced at the clock - 6:30 AM. She had a full day ahead of her, starting with a meeting with her podcast producer, Michael Chen. Sighing, she dragged herself out of bed and into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the remnants of sleep and the lingering sense of foreboding.

An hour later, Eve was seated across from Michael at a local coffee shop, nursing a large black coffee and trying to ignore the weariness that seemed to have seeped into her bones. Michael, in contrast, was a ball of energy, his eyes bright with excitement as he chattered about the latest download numbers for Secrets Unbound.

We’ve hit a new milestone, Eve - 500,000 downloads, for the last episode alone! The audience is really responding to your investigation into the Meredith Sawyer case.

Eve managed a small smile. That’s great, Michael. But I can’t help feeling like I’m missing something, like there’s a piece of the puzzle that I just can’t see.

Michael leaned forward, his expression turning serious. What do you mean? Is this about the anonymous tip you mentioned in your email?

Eve nodded, lowering her voice. The caller claimed to have evidence that could change everything, but they wouldn’t give me any details over the phone. They want me to meet them tonight, alone, at an abandoned factory on the outskirts of town.

Michael’s eyes widened. Eve, that sounds incredibly dangerous. You can’t go there by yourself. What if it’s a trap?

Eve sighed, running a hand through her auburn hair. I know it’s a risk, but what choice do I have? If there’s even a chance that this informant has information that could help me solve the case, I have to take it. I owe it to Meredith, and to all the other victims who have never gotten justice.

Michael shook his head, concern etched on his face. I understand, Eve, but you need to be smart about this. You’re no good to anyone if you get yourself killed. At least take some precautions, maybe bring someone with you as backup.

Eve’s jaw tightened. No, I can’t involve anyone else. The caller was very specific - I have to come alone. And besides, I don’t want to put anyone else in danger. This is my investigation, my responsibility.

Michael looked like he wanted to argue, but he knew from experience that once Eve had made up her mind, there was no changing it. Fine, he relented, but promise me you’ll be careful. And check in with me as soon as you’re back safely, okay?

Eve gave him a reassuring smile. I promise, Michael. I’ll be careful. But even as she said the words, Eve couldn’t shake the feeling that she was about to step into something far more dangerous than she had ever encountered before.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of research and preparation. Eve pored over the case files, searching for any detail she might have missed, any connection that could shed light on the mysterious caller’s information. She made lists of questions to ask, of possible scenarios and contingencies. But no matter how much she prepared, Eve couldn’t escape the gnawing sense of apprehension that grew with each passing hour.

As midnight approached, Eve found herself parked outside the old abandoned factory, her heart pounding in her chest. The building loomed before her, a hulking shadow against the starless sky. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever lay ahead.

Remember, Carlisle, she muttered to herself, you’ve faced worse than this. You can handle anything they throw at you. But as she stepped out of the car and made her way towards the factory entrance, Eve couldn’t help but feel like she was walking into the unknown, into a darkness that threatened to swallow her whole.

The factory was eerily silent, the only sound the echo of Eve’s footsteps on the concrete floor. She swept her flashlight beam across the cavernous space, searching for any sign of the mysterious informant. But the place appeared to be deserted, a graveyard of rusted machinery and forgotten dreams.

Just as Eve was beginning to think that she had been lured here on a wild goose chase, a voice spoke from the shadows. You came alone, good. I wasn’t sure if I could trust you, Detective Carlisle.

Eve spun around, her heart leaping into her throat. A figure stepped out from behind a pillar, a man in his late fifties with a weathered face and haunted eyes. I’m not a detective anymore, Eve said carefully, and I don’t believe we’ve met. You seem to have me at a disadvantage, Mister...?

The man shook his head. No names. It’s safer that way, for both of us. Let’s just say I’m someone who knows the truth about what happened to Meredith Sawyer, and I want to help you bring her killers to justice.

Eve’s eyes narrowed. And why would you want to do that? What’s in it for you?

The man’s face darkened, a shadow passing over his features. Let’s just say I have my reasons, and leave it at that. What matters is that I have evidence that can blow this case wide open, evidence that points to a conspiracy that goes to the highest levels of power in this city.

Eve’s mind was racing, trying to process the implications of what the man was saying. What kind of evidence are we talking about here? And why come to me? Why not go to the police or the media?

The man let out a bitter laugh. The police? The media? They’re all part of the problem, Detective. The people behind this have them all in their pockets, and they’ll stop at nothing to keep the truth from coming out. But you’re different - you’re an outsider, and you have a platform that can reach people, make them listen.

Eve felt a chill run down her spine. She knew all too well the cost of taking on powerful interests, the price of pursuing the truth at all costs. Additionally, she was aware that she couldn’t turn away now, considering that Meredith Sawyer and the other victims whom the system had left behind finally had a chance to receive justice.

Alright, she said finally, I’m listening. What do you have for me?

The man reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a USB drive. Everything you need to know is on here - police reports, witness statements, forensic evidence, all of it pointing to a cover-up that goes all the way to the top. But be careful, Detective. The people behind this will stop at nothing to keep this buried, and they’ll come after you with everything they’ve got.

Eve took the USB drive, her hand trembling slightly. Why me? she asked softly. Why did you choose me for this?

The man’s eyes met hers, and for a moment, Eve saw a flicker of something there - regret, perhaps, or a deep, abiding sadness. Because you know what it’s like, he said finally. You know what it’s like to be haunted by the ghosts of the past, to be driven by the need for redemption. And because I believe that you’re the only one who can see this through to the end, no matter the cost.

With that, the man turned and melted back into the shadows, leaving Eve alone in the echoing darkness of the factory. She stood there for a long moment, the USB drive clutched in her hand, a sense of destiny settling over her like a shroud.

She knew that this was just the beginning, that the road ahead would be long and treacherous. But Eve also knew that she had no choice but to follow it wherever it might lead. For Meredith Sawyer, for all the forgotten and abandoned, and for her own shattered soul, crying out for justice and redemption.

Eve turned and walked out of the factory, into the waiting night. The die had been cast, and there was no turning back now. Come what may, she would see this through to the end, no matter the cost.

As she drove back to her apartment, Eve’s mind was already racing ahead, trying to make sense of the pieces of the puzzle that had just fallen into her lap. The USB drive felt like a lead weight in her pocket, a talisman of the truth that she had been seeking for so long.

But even as she felt a surge of excitement at the prospect of finally cracking the case, Eve couldn’t shake the sense of unease that had been growing inside her all day. The informant’s warning echoed in her mind - They’ll come after you with everything they’ve got - and she knew that she would have to be more careful than ever before.

When she finally arrived back at her apartment, Eve was exhausted but wired, her mind still buzzing with possibilities and questions. She sat down at her desk and plugged in the USB drive, her heart pounding as she waited for the files to load.

What she found there was beyond anything she could have imagined - a trove of evidence and information that pointed to a conspiracy that went far beyond a single murder case. There were police reports that had been doctored or suppressed, witness statements that contradicted the official version of events, and forensic analyses that had been buried or ignored.

But what really caught Eve’s eye was a