Controls Are Lost

Right Place At The Right Time

Author’s Note

Sarah and Chuck arrive at the FBI Field Office in San Diego, where there’s a little more relationship building. Someone has taken an interest in Sarah, and Chuck continues to be her rock. Sorry for the delay. I’m also working on a couple of other stories, so time has been a bit limited. I’ll try not to make you wait too long between chapters. This story isn’t a rapid-paced adventure. The action comes gradually. Remember, these two just met each other. It’s about the characters, their relationship, and their development. I’m learning from many of you, so if something doesn’t make sense, please let me know. Your feedback helps me become a better writer.

Thank you, everybody, for the reviews. You are wonderful people.

No ownership of Chuck here.

Chapter 3

Controls Are Lost

The drive to the FBI field office passed in almost complete silence. The excitement and uncertainty of everything that had happened throughout the day had finally begun to settle into something much heavier. Sarah sat quietly in the passenger seat, her thoughts racing faster than the traffic around them. Every answer Graham had given seemed to create three new questions, and she had no idea what the rest of the evening would bring. She was frightened in a way she had never experienced before. Running for her life had been terrifying, but at least then she had only one objective. Keep moving. Now she had time to think, and that somehow made everything feel even more overwhelming.

Having Chuck beside her helped calm some of those fears. His quiet presence reminded her that she was no longer facing the world alone. Even so, the future remained a mystery. She had no idea what tomorrow would look like, let alone the next week, the next month, or the next year. The FBI could decide to move her anywhere. They could separate her from Chuck. They could put her somewhere she had never been, surrounded by strangers who would decide every aspect of her life. The uncertainty weighed heavily on her, making every mile of the drive seem longer than the last.

Without even realizing she was doing it, Sarah kept her hand wrapped tightly around Chuck’s. Her fingers refused to let go, as though loosening her grip would somehow cause him to disappear. She had spent her entire life watching people come and go, promises being broken, and trust being betrayed. Chuck had entered her life only hours earlier, yet somehow he had become the one constant she could still hold on to. She feared that if she released his hand, reality would catch up to her and he would simply vanish from her world like everyone else eventually had.

Her mind refused to stay in the present. Images from earlier that morning kept forcing themselves back into her thoughts. She saw the old house as clearly as if she were standing inside it again. She remembered the laughter, the smell of beer and cigarette smoke, and the foolish conversations that had seemed so ordinary only minutes before everything changed. Then came the sound of the first gunshot. She could still hear it echoing through the house.

The memories only became worse from there. She saw the bodies of the four people she had been living and working beside lying motionless on the floor. Blood stained the walls and soaked into the old wooden boards beneath them. She remembered peering cautiously through the bathroom doorway and seeing six armed men calmly standing over the victims with pistols still smoking in their hands. None of them looked frightened. None of them hesitated. A couple of them had actually been smiling as they looked over the carnage they had created, as though murdering four human beings was nothing more than another task completed before lunch.

Sarah squeezed Chuck’s hand a little tighter. Without taking his eyes off the road, Chuck gently squeezed back. He didn’t need to ask what she was thinking.

He already knew.

A sudden shiver ran through Sarah’s body. Chuck felt it immediately. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, pulling her attention away from the memories that had trapped her.

“Sarah,” he said softly. “Talk to me. What’s going on? What are you thinking about?”

She stared through the windshield for a long moment before answering.

“I just keep seeing them.”

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

“I keep seeing those people lying on the floor. They’re dead, Chuck. Some of them weren’t much older than I am. Every time I close my eyes I see the blood, I see their faces, and I see those men standing over them.”

She swallowed hard, trying to steady herself.

“I can’t get it out of my head. No matter how hard I try, it just keeps coming back. I’ve never seen anything so horrible in my entire life.”

She turned toward him, tears beginning to fill her eyes once again.

“Oh, Chuck… I’m so scared.”

He looked at her for only a brief moment before returning his attention to the road.

“I know you are.”

She wiped at her eyes.

“I think I’m even more scared now than I was back then. When I was running, I didn’t have time to think. Now everything’s slowing down, and it’s all catching up with me.”

Chuck nodded.

“That’s completely understandable.”

He spoke gently, choosing his words with care.

“The adrenaline kept you moving. It protected you while you were escaping. Now that your body finally knows you’re safe, the shock is beginning to wear off. You’re starting to feel everything that happened instead of just reacting to it.”

Sarah listened quietly.

“So let’s not spend all of our time thinking about what already happened,” Chuck continued. “Let’s spend a little time thinking about what’s going to happen next.”

She looked over at him curiously.

“I’m hoping the FBI decides to keep us somewhere near Los Angeles. If that happens, maybe we can figure out a way to get you enrolled in some online college classes while you’re staying at the safe house.”

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“It might be a good opportunity to start building the future you actually want.”

Sarah thought about it for a moment.

“I’ve never really let myself think that far ahead.”

“You can start now.”

She smiled shyly.

“I’ve always been interested in linguistics.”

Chuck’s eyebrows rose.

“Really?”

She nodded.

“And business economics.”

Chuck couldn’t hide his excitement.

“Sarah, that’s awesome.”

She laughed quietly at his enthusiasm.

“Do you speak any languages besides English?”

A small smile spread across her face.

“A few.”

Chuck grinned.

“Now you’ve really got my attention.”

Chuck smiled as he glanced over at Sarah.

“I only have a working knowledge of Spanish, but that’s about as far as I go.”

Sarah looked at him with interest.

“My roommate, Morgan, actually helped me with it. You haven’t met him yet. He’s my best friend, and we’ve lived together for quite a while. I might have mentioned him already.”

She nodded.

“We practiced Spanish together whenever we had the chance. His mom speaks fluent Spanish, so she was always correcting our pronunciation. Morgan can definitely get by, although he doesn’t exactly put his whole heart into studying.”

Chuck laughed to himself.

“That’s just Morgan. He’s one of the most laid back people you’ll ever meet. He doesn’t put a tremendous amount of effort into a lot of things unless they really interest him. You’ll understand what I mean whenever you meet him.”

His expression softened.

“Even so, he’s one of the best friends a person could ask for. I’d do just about anything for that guy.”

Sarah smiled.

“I’d like to meet him someday.”

“I think you’d like him.”

She looked down at their joined hands before answering his earlier question.

“I took Spanish in high school too, and I also studied German.”

Chuck’s eyebrows lifted.

“Really?”

She nodded.

“I can carry on a conversation in both languages, but I still need a lot more practice,” Sarah said. “There aren’t many opportunities to speak German where I live, so it’s difficult to improve when you never get to use it.”

Chuck looked at her with interest.

“Where did you learn German?”

Sarah leaned back slightly, her thoughts drifting to another time.

“My parents were working a job in North Dakota. My dad found out about a German woman who had inherited a fortune from her father. He wanted to get close to her, and part of his plan was to use me to become close to the family.”

She gave a small shrug.

“They were very proud of their German heritage. German was the language they spoke around the house almost all the time. My dad spent months gaining the mother’s trust, and she became very fond of me because I was always kind and helpful to her daughter.”

A faint smile appeared as she remembered.

“My dad eventually convinced the woman that he had to travel out of the country for a while and asked if she would look after me until he returned. It was all part of the con. Living there gave my parents another way to stay close to the family without raising suspicion.”

She looked down at her hands.

“I became really good friends with her daughter. Since everyone in the house spoke German as their first language, I was completely immersed in it every day. I don’t really know how, but I picked it up incredibly fast.”

Her smile slowly faded.

“My father came back a few times, still trying to make the mother interested in him, but eventually something went wrong. I never found out exactly what happened. All I know is that after living with them for about four months, my parents suddenly pulled me out of the house, and within a day we were driving to another state. Less than a week later they were already planning their next job.”

She sighed quietly.

“I always had the feeling we were running away because my dad had been caught in one of his lies. From what I overheard later, I think one of the woman’s relatives discovered he was involved with my mother the whole time. Whatever happened, everything fell apart.”

Sarah looked back at Chuck.

“I can still read German, and whenever I have the chance I practice online or read whatever I can find in the language. I can still speak it pretty well, but I know I’ll need a lot more practice if I want to become truly fluent again.”

Chuck’s smile widened.

“Well, maybe we can change that.”

She looked at him curiously.

“If we’re together for a while, we can practice. We can speak Spanish one day and German the next. I’ll probably make a hundred mistakes, but at least we’d both learn something.”

Sarah laughed quietly.

“I think I’d like that.”

Chuck’s smile faded slightly as another thought crossed his mind.

“Assuming they even let me stay with you.”

He sighed.

“I honestly don’t know how the FBI is going to handle this. A safe house isn’t exactly very safe if one person is coming and going every day. If they let me keep attending classes, I’d be leaving every morning and coming back every afternoon.”

He shrugged.

“I’m hoping they find a place close enough to Echo Park that we can somehow make it work.”

Sarah gave his hand another gentle squeeze.

“I hope so too.”

The conversation drifted naturally from one subject to another as the miles slipped away beneath the tires. They talked about school, favorite movies, childhood memories, books, music, and the small pieces of themselves that they had never expected to share with someone they had only met that morning. By the time the FBI field office finally came into view thirty minutes later, neither of them felt like strangers anymore. It seemed impossible that an entire friendship, and perhaps something even deeper, had begun in the span of a single extraordinary day.

The FBI field office was far more impressive than either Chuck or Sarah had expected. The modern six story building stood behind a broad stretch of perfectly maintained landscaping that reflected the unmistakable style of Southern California. Towering glass windows covered most of the front façade, giving the structure a sleek, polished appearance. Everything about it projected professionalism, security, and authority.

Off to one side, a large multi level parking structure was connected to the main building by an enclosed pedestrian bridge suspended above the roadway. Chuck guessed the bridge existed for security reasons, allowing employees and authorized visitors to move between the garage and the building without ever stepping outside.

They followed Graham’s vehicle into the parking structure, slowing to a stop at a security checkpoint. Uniformed officers carefully examined the FBI vehicles before waving them through without delay. Chuck couldn’t help noticing how every person they passed acknowledged Graham with immediate respect. It was obvious they all knew exactly who he was.

The moment Graham stepped out of his car, the change in him was unmistakable.

The approachable man who had shared coffee with them only half an hour earlier seemed to disappear. His posture straightened, his expression became unreadable, and every movement carried quiet authority. He was completely back in his own environment, a place where everyone looked to him for direction. The two agents who had accompanied him throughout the afternoon remained only a few steps behind, matching his pace without needing a single instruction.

Graham turned toward Chuck and Sarah.

“Stay close to me,” he said. “We’ll be heading directly to admissions. There will be some paperwork to complete, and afterward we’ll arrange temporary accommodations for both of you until we decide how to proceed.”

Chuck nodded, although he wasn’t entirely comfortable with how matter of fact everything suddenly sounded. The word accommodations felt suspiciously close to detention.

Beside him, Sarah had become noticeably tense.

Her eyes constantly swept across the parking structure and every hallway they entered. She examined security cameras, elevators, stairwells, locked doors, and every possible exit she could find. Chuck quickly realized she wasn’t simply looking around. She was instinctively evaluating escape routes and searching for weaknesses in the building’s security.

Under different circumstances, he probably would have found it impressive.

Instead, he found it strangely endearing.

As they stepped into the elevator, he leaned slightly closer so only she could hear him.

“Sarah.”

She looked at him immediately.

“I’ve got a feeling there isn’t any chance we’re escaping this place.”

For the first time in several minutes, the corner of her mouth twitched into a smile.

“So maybe you can stop planning our prison break.”

A quiet laugh escaped her before she could stop it.

Chuck smiled.

“Just relax. We’ll face whatever happens next together.”

Sarah looked into his eyes for a moment, then gave a small nod. The tension in her shoulders eased just enough for him to notice, and once again she reached for his hand, finding comfort in the simple reassurance that he was still beside her.

Before they were allowed any farther into the building, Chuck and Sarah were guided through a security screening process that was far more thorough than anything either of them had experienced before. Although Graham had already explained that they were being brought in as voluntary witnesses and victims rather than suspects, the procedures were still intimidating. Their belongings were examined, they passed through multiple security checkpoints, and their identities were verified several times before anyone allowed them access beyond the secured entrance.

Fortunately, Graham’s authority allowed them to bypass the standard booking process and the detention area entirely. They weren’t treated like prisoners, but neither of them felt entirely free. The atmosphere throughout the building carried an unmistakable sense of control. Every hallway required security clearance, every door seemed electronically locked, and every person they encountered appeared to have a purpose.

The entire experience felt strangely unreal.

They were directed to a reception desk where they registered as visitors and were each issued temporary identification badges. Chuck clipped his badge to the front of his shirt and glanced over at Sarah, who was examining hers with quiet curiosity.

“I almost feel official,” she said with a faint smile.

Chuck chuckled.

“I don’t know. I think this badge just means they know exactly where we are.”

Sarah laughed softly.

“You’re probably right.”

Chuck wasn’t convinced they were receiving any sort of special treatment. As flattering as the visitor badges might have seemed for a moment, he suspected this was simply standard protocol for anyone entering such a secure government facility.

After completing the paperwork, Graham spoke briefly with two waiting agents. One was a woman with short dark hair and a composed, professional demeanor. The other was a tall man whose expression remained serious but approachable. Both were dressed in business suits, and each carried themselves with the quiet confidence of experienced investigators.

Graham introduced them.

“These are the special agents who will be assigned to you while you’re here.”

Both agents greeted Chuck and Sarah politely before leading them deeper into the building.

After several turns through a maze of hallways, they arrived at a spacious room that looked remarkably similar to the interview rooms Chuck had seen countless times on television, only much more inviting. Large windows overlooked the city, comfortable chairs surrounded a conference table, a sofa occupied one wall, and soft lighting replaced the harsh fluorescent fixtures Chuck had expected. The room felt less like an interrogation space and more like a private meeting room designed to put people at ease.

The two agents explained that they would remain assigned to Chuck and Sarah for as long as they stayed at the San Diego field office. They would answer questions, coordinate their needs, and ensure their safety until Director Graham finalized the next stage of the investigation.

Throughout the entire walk across the building, Chuck and Sarah said very little. They remained close to one another, instinctively matching each other’s pace and never allowing more than a few inches of space to separate them. Whenever one slowed, the other slowed as well. Neither of them seemed willing to let the other drift out of reach, finding quiet reassurance simply in knowing the other was still there.

The agent whom Chuck and Sarah assumed was the lead investigator took a seat across from them and began explaining their rights in a calm, professional manner. He carefully outlined the protective measures the FBI intended to provide, making certain they understood each step before moving on to the next. Once he had finished, he looked at both of them.

“Before we continue,” he said, “do either of you have any immediate questions or concerns?”

Neither of them answered right away.

The agent continued.

“Our priority is finding a temporary relocation site that meets our security requirements. Once a suitable location has been approved, you’ll be moved there under enhanced protection. Depending on the threat assessment, FBI personnel may be assigned to remain on site with you around the clock.”

Sarah listened carefully, trying to absorb everything that was being explained.

The female agent then turned her attention toward her.

“Sarah, after everything you’ve experienced today, I need to ask a few questions about your well being. Are you physically injured in any way? Would you like to be examined by one of our medical staff? We also have psychiatrists, psychologists, and trauma counselors available if you’d like to speak with someone.”

Sarah glanced at the agent for only a moment before quietly shaking her head.

“No,” she answered. “I’m alright.”

The agent studied her expression.

“Are you sure?”

Sarah nodded again.

“I don’t think I need to talk to anyone right now. I just want to know what’s happening next.”

The agent accepted her answer without pressing the issue.

A short time later another individual entered the room carrying several folders and a digital recorder. He introduced himself, took a seat at the table, and placed the recorder in front of him.

“I need to advise both of you that everything discussed from this point forward will be audio recorded as part of the official investigation.”

He waited until both Chuck and Sarah acknowledged they understood before pressing the record button.

“We’re going to begin by conducting a formal interview with Miss Walker concerning the events that took place earlier today. We’ll be discussing her involvement, her observations, and everything she remembers about the shootings in Los Angeles.”

He looked from Sarah to Chuck.

“Before we begin, I need to ask both of you a standard procedural question.”

He folded his hands on the table.

“Do either of you wish to have legal counsel present during this interview, or would you like us to arrange for an attorney before we proceed?”

The room became completely silent as Chuck and Sarah exchanged a brief glance, neither of them having expected the question so soon.

Chuck was the first to answer.

“No,” he said politely. “We’ll tell you what we know. If there’s something we don’t want to answer, then we simply won’t answer it. I believe that’s our right. The Fifth Amendment applies in that situation, doesn’t it?”

The interviewing agent gave a small nod.

“Yes, it does. You have the constitutional right not to answer any question that you believe may incriminate you. If you choose to invoke your Fifth Amendment rights during this interview, that is entirely your decision.”

He spoke calmly, making no attempt to pressure either of them.

“However, that isn’t why we’re here. Our objective isn’t to violate your rights or force you into saying anything you’re uncomfortable discussing. We’re simply trying to establish exactly what happened earlier today. Every detail you can provide helps us build a clearer picture of the events, identify those responsible, and ultimately bring them into custody.”

Chuck nodded several times.

“Right. Right. That makes sense.”

A slightly embarrassed smile crossed his face.

“I’m kind of new to this whole FBI experience. Everything that’s happened today has been… well… a lot.”

A few people around the table smiled at his honesty.

“There is something I wanted to ask, though.”

The interviewing agent gestured for him to continue.

“Is there any chance Sarah and I will be able to speak with Mr. Graham again sometime soon? We both felt a lot more comfortable talking with him.”

The agent nodded.

“I’ll let him know you’ve requested to see him. I can’t promise exactly when he’ll be available, but I’ll make sure he receives the message.”

Before anyone could continue, Sarah quietly spoke for the first time.

“I was also wondering if there’s somewhere I could clean up.”

She looked down at the clothes she had been wearing since fleeing Los Angeles.

“Mr. Graham mentioned there would be a change of clothes waiting for me.”

The female agent immediately smiled.

“Absolutely, Sarah. I apologize that we haven’t taken care of that yet. We do have clothing prepared for you, along with toiletries and anything else you might need. We will pause for now, I’ll take you to a private room where you can shower and change into something more comfortable.”

Relief spread across Sarah’s face.

“Thank you.”

“Of course.”

The female agent looked between Chuck and Sarah.

“One more question before we begin.”

She smiled warmly.

“You’ve both had an incredibly long day. Are either of you hungry? We can have food brought in before we start the interview if you’d like.”

Only then did Chuck realize that neither of them had eaten anything since sharing chocolate croissants several hours earlier.

Chuck didn’t hesitate.

“I could definitely eat something.”

He looked around the room with an optimistic grin.

“So what do you guys have? Is there a menu or something?”

Both agents smiled, and the tension in the room eased for the first time since they had arrived.

“No menu,” the male agent replied with a quiet chuckle. “We have a cafeteria downstairs. Once Miss Walker has had a chance to freshen up, we’ll take both of you down there and get you something to eat.”

Chuck nodded approvingly.

“That works for me.”

The female agent stood and motioned toward the hallway.

“Come with me, Sarah.”

Sarah quietly followed her out of the room. A few minutes later they reached a private washroom and changing area. The agent explained that fresh clothing, toiletries, and everything else she might need had already been placed inside. She waited respectfully outside the door while Sarah showered, changed into clean clothes, and did her best to wash away what had been the longest day of her life.

Afterward, Chuck and Sarah were escorted to the cafeteria, where they shared a simple meal before returning upstairs to complete the formal interview. The cafeteria was quiet, filled mostly with agents grabbing a quick bite before returning to work. As Chuck and Sarah ate, trying to make sense of everything that had happened over the last twenty four hours, neither of them paid much attention to the people around them. Several tables away, a man dressed in business attire sat alone with his cell phone resting casually in his hands. To anyone watching, he appeared to be reading messages or scrolling through videos while he ate. In reality, he was quietly taking photographs of the young couple from different angles, making sure to capture both of their faces clearly without attracting attention.

Once he was satisfied, the man gathered his tray, discarded the remains of his meal, and calmly walked out of the cafeteria. He made his way through several corridors until he reached a secluded location where there were no security cameras and no audio surveillance. After making certain he was alone, he pulled out his phone and placed a call.

“Good afternoon, sir. I’ve located the girl, and she’s with her boyfriend. No, sir, I don’t have a name yet, but I’d estimate he’s about eighteen or nineteen years old. They’re currently at the FBI field office in San Diego. Yes, sir, I followed them here from Los Angeles. They appear to be under the Assistant Directors protection.”

He paused for a moment, listening carefully.

“Yes, sir. I’m sending the photographs now. From what I’ve overheard, they’ll be moved to a local safe house within the next thirty minutes. No, sir, I don’t know the location yet, but I’ll keep digging. As soon as I find out where they’re taking them, you’ll be the first to know.”

Another brief pause followed before he nodded to himself.

“You’re welcome, sir. Anytime.”

He ended the call and stared at the phone for a long moment before letting out a slow, frustrated breath.

“You’re a piece of shit asshole,” he muttered quietly under his breath.

Slipping the phone back into his pocket, he composed himself, put on an expression of complete indifference, and walked away as though nothing had happened. A short time later, he left the field office and began the drive back toward the Los Angeles field office, carrying information that could change everything for Chuck and Sarah.

Once they had finished their lunch, Chuck and Sarah were escorted back upstairs to the interview room where the formal questioning would begin. The room was quiet except for the soft hum of the ventilation system. One of the agents adjusted a digital recorder on the table, pressed the record button, and formally stated the date, the time, and the name of the individual being interviewed before looking directly at Sarah.

“Miss Walker, could you please describe, in your own words, the events that occurred before and after the robbery at the Demetrios residence?”

Sarah hesitated for a moment, her confidence wavering as she glanced toward Chuck. Seeing the reassuring expression on his face settled her nerves enough to begin.

“Robert was the leader of our group,” she said quietly. “He planned almost every job we pulled. This one started because he was dating a deli girl named Lou Palone. They hadn’t been together very long, but Robert found out from her that her ex boyfriend was Stavros Demetrios, the son of some wealthy import export businessman. I don’t really know much about their family or what they actually did.”

She paused briefly, trying to remember the sequence of events.

“One night they were at a nightclub. I think it was called Club Ares. That’s where Robert met Lou’s ex boyfriend. Robert came back saying they got along really well, but honestly I don’t think that was true. I always got the impression Stavros was jealous of Robert dating Lou. Somehow the conversation turned to his father’s business and their family home. Stavros talked about it quite a bit, although I’m sure he didn’t tell Robert everything. Eventually he invited Robert and Lou over to the house.”

Sarah folded her hands together on the table as she continued.

“While Robert was there, he was really casing the place. He wasn’t visiting as a friend. He was studying the layout, watching where people went, looking for cameras, entrances, exits, and anything valuable. When he came back, he told us he’d found our next job. He said the house was filled with expensive artwork, jewelry, antiques, electronics, and other valuables that could be sold quickly. From that moment on, the robbery became his obsession.”

Sarah took a slow breath before continuing. “Once Robert had everything planned out, we went to the house and robbed it. We grabbed whatever looked valuable enough to sell, things that we thought would bring in some decent money. My job was to stay outside and act as the lookout while everyone else went through the house. Everything was going according to plan until Mikey decided he wanted to copy the contents of the owner’s computer. He plugged in a flash drive and copied every file he could find before anyone noticed. After we left, we thought we’d gotten away clean. We stayed hidden for a couple of days, moving between different locations before finally ending up back at Joey‘s house. That’s where everything went wrong.”

The interviewing agent nodded as he made a few notes before looking back up at her.

“Very good, Miss Walker. Let me stop you there for just a moment. This flash drive you mentioned, I don’t believe anyone has seen it yet. Do you have any idea where it might be?”

“Yes,” Sarah answered without hesitation. “When we were leaving through the front door, Mikey handed it to me and told me to hide it on me. I slipped it into my sock because I figured nobody would think to look there.”

“I see,” the agent replied. “And do you know where that flash drive is now?”

Sarah gave a small nod. “I’m not quite sure where that little piece of plastic is anymore. I gave it to Robert later that night while we were hiding out. I know he said he was going to give it to a friend of his. He said something about it getting him in with the big guys so we could start pulling bigger jobs and making more money. I’m not sure exactly what was on the drive, but Mikey said it had a bunch of ledgers, information about certain items being shipped in and shipped out over the next few days, and some financial records. I figured Robert was going to hand it over to one of his contacts because he wanted to build our reputation.”

“I see,” the agent replied. “Do you know if Robert actually handed it off to this contact, or is it possible it’s still at your hideout?”

Sarah slowly shook her head.

“I don’t know. Once I handed it over and heard Robert and Mikey talking about it, I wasn’t involved anymore. I have no idea what happened to it after that.” She paused as the realization suddenly struck her. “But now that I think about it… maybe that’s the reason why…”

She could not finish the sentence. Tears began filling her eyes as the thought settled in.

“It’s all right, Miss Walker,” the agent said gently. “We understand. Thank you. We’ll look into it and see what we can find.”

He leaned forward slightly, his interest clearly growing.

“Would it be possible for you to tell us the name of this contact or where he might be located, Miss Walker?”

Sarah shook her head again.

“No, sir. I wasn’t trusted with information like that.”

“Thank you very much, Miss Walker. You’ve been extremely helpful.”

The agent turned toward one of his colleagues and nodded.

“I think Director Graham is going to want to know about this immediately.”

Sarah kept swallowing hard, her nerves growing worse with every question. The interview seemed endless. The agents asked the same questions repeatedly, sometimes changing only a few words, then circling back to them again later. They were clearly searching for inconsistencies, hoping to catch a discrepancy in her story or a detail that did not fit. Sarah recognized what they were doing, but she refused to let herself become flustered or intimidated. She answered each question exactly as she had the first time, never changing her account no matter how many different ways they asked it.

Throughout the entire interview, Chuck never let go of her hand. His quiet support became the one constant she could rely on as she relived the terrifying events of the past few days. Whenever she felt herself beginning to lose her composure, she would glance at him, and somehow his calm presence gave her the strength to continue. After listening carefully to everything she had told the agents, Chuck finally spoke.

“I think there’s something you should know. I actually know this Lou girl. She owns a little deli in the same shopping center as the Buy More and Large Mart in Burbank. I’ve known her for quite a while, and she’s a really nice person. I honestly don’t believe she had anything to do with these crimes. I think she was simply in the wrong place with the wrong guy. Then, unfortunately, she ended up with another wrong guy. You know what I mean. Lou is good people.”

The interviewing agent nodded thoughtfully. “Thank you, Mr. Bartowski. We’ll certainly take that into consideration. At this time we don’t have any evidence suggesting Miss Palone knowingly participated in these crimes. However, we will still need to bring her in for questioning to determine exactly what she knew and when she knew it.”

Chuck nodded in understanding. “That’s fair.”

Sarah drew another steadying breath before continuing her statement.

“Later that morning everyone was just sitting around the living room watching television. Robert, Joey, Mikey, and Jess were all together. I usually didn’t spend much time hanging around with them. I wasn’t there because they were my friends. I was there because I needed the money. I swear I never knowingly did anything that I believed was seriously illegal. I never stole anything myself. Most of the time they used me as a lookout or to distract people while they did whatever they were planning. Please believe me. That’s the truth.”

“We understand, Miss Walker,” the lead agent said reassuringly. “We’ll verify everything you’ve told us.”

Sarah nodded gratefully before continuing.

“I’d only been there for about three minutes when everything changed.”

“I had just come back from making a phone call to my parents to let them know I was all right,” Sarah continued quietly. “When I walked back into the house, everyone seemed completely relaxed. They were drinking, smoking, laughing, and watching television. Nobody looked worried about anything. I went straight to the bathroom because I wanted to clean myself up before joining them. I was only in there for about a minute when I heard the gunfire.”

She paused, taking a slow breath before continuing.

“My first reaction was complete shock. Then the fear hit me. I stumbled backward and pressed myself against the toilet, trying to make myself as small as possible. I had no idea what was happening on the other side of the bathroom door. Before the shooting started, I remember hearing muffled voices, but I couldn’t make out what anyone was saying. Then everything erupted.”

Sarah looked down at the table, her grip tightening around Chuck’s hand.

“When the gunfire finally stopped and my heart settled enough for me to move, I slowly opened the bathroom door. The first thing I saw were the bodies. They were all lying on the floor. I knew immediately that I had to get out of there. Then I saw the men start shooting the bodies again. I didn’t think. I just ran. I sprinted right past them, through the front door, and I never stopped. I must have run for miles before I finally ended up in the food court of an office building. That’s where I met Chuck.”

The interviewing agent asked several additional questions, carefully clarifying small details about the timeline, the layout of the house, the appearance of the gunmen, and the sequence of events. Sarah answered everything she could remember, but eventually there was nothing more she could add. Satisfied they had extracted every useful detail she could provide, the agents switched off the recorder and thanked her for her cooperation.