Chapter 6 The Plan For Laura's Mother's Killer

Audrey's POV

The night had fallen by the time I heard from Laura again. The entire day had been a whirl of court proceedings and meetings, but I hadn't been able to get Laura out of my mind. There was something different in her eyes today, a mixture of determination and vulnerability that tugged at my heart.

As I stepped out of my penthouse, the city lights flickering like stars beneath me, my phone buzzed with a message from Laura: Need to talk. Meet me at the office.

I wasted no time. My driver, Paul, was already waiting outside, and within minutes, we were speeding through the streets of New York. The city had a way of feeling both alive and desolate at night, a reflection of the turmoil within me.

When I arrived at the office, Laura was already there, pacing back and forth, a file clutched tightly in her hands. The moment she saw me, her eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that made my pulse quicken.

"What happened?" I asked, my voice barely concealing my concern.

She didn't answer immediately, instead handing me the file. "Read this," she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of anger and fear.

I took the file from her, flipping through the pages. My blood ran cold as I read the contents: documents, witness statements, and proof that Simon, her foster father, was involved in her mother's death. The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut.

"Simon... he's the one who...?" I couldn't finish the sentence, the words choking in my throat.

Laura nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yes. He killed my mother. And he's been hiding the truth all these years."

The weight of her words settled over me like a dark cloud. I had known Simon as a mentor, a guiding figure in the business world. To learn that he was capable of such a heinous act was almost beyond comprehension.

"What are you going to do?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Laura's expression hardened, her eyes blazing with determination. "I'm going to make sure he pays for what he did. I won't stop until he's brought to justice."

I reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You're not alone in this, Laura. We'll get through this together."

For a moment, she softened, her shoulders relaxing under my touch. But then she pulled away, her resolve returning. "I appreciate that, Audrey. But there's more. We need to act fast. If Simon catches wind that we're onto him, he could disappear."

I nodded, understanding the urgency. "I'll get in touch with my contacts. We need to gather as much evidence as possible and build a strong case against him."

As I made the calls, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were walking a dangerous path. Simon was a powerful man with connections that ran deep. But I had promised Laura that I would stand by her, and I intended to keep that promise.

Hours passed in a blur of phone calls, meetings, and planning. By the time we had everything in place, the first light of dawn was creeping through the windows. Exhaustion weighed heavily on me, but there was no time to rest.

"Everything is set," I said, turning to Laura. "We have enough evidence to take him down. But we need to be careful. Simon won't go down without a fight."

Laura nodded, her eyes resolute. "I know. But I'm ready for this. I've waited too long for justice."

We decided to meet with the legal team at my place to strategize our next steps. As we walked out of the office, the city waking up around us, I couldn't help but feel a surge of admiration for Laura. Despite everything she had been through, she remained unbroken, her spirit a force to be reckoned with.

Back at the penthouse, the legal team was already assembled. Eric, my lawyer and friend, was leading the charge. He had been hesitant about getting involved, but once he saw the evidence, he was fully on board.

"We need to move quickly and discreetly," Eric said, spreading out the documents on the table. "Simon has deep connections, and if he gets wind of this, he could flee the country."

Laura sat across from him, her face a mask of determination. "What's our first move?"

Eric glanced at me before answering. "We need to secure a warrant for his arrest. But before that, we need to ensure that he doesn't have a chance to destroy any evidence. Audrey, I need you to use your contacts in the media. If we can get this story out there, it will be harder for him to cover his tracks."

I nodded, already thinking of who to call. "I'll handle it. We need to make sure this story hits every major news outlet."

As I made the calls, Laura and Eric continued to strategize. The tension in the room was palpable, but there was also a sense of unity, a shared goal that brought us all together. For the first time in a long while, I felt like we had a real chance at winning this battle.

Hours later, the news broke. Every major channel was running the story of Simon's involvement in Amber's death. The headlines were brutal but necessary. We needed to ensure that the truth was exposed.

The response was immediate. Phones rang off the hook, messages poured in, and the legal team worked tirelessly to manage the fallout. It was chaos, but it was controlled chaos. We had taken the first step, and there was no turning back.

That evening, as we watched the news coverage, Laura and I shared a moment of quiet triumph. We had a long road ahead, but we had taken a significant step towards justice.

"Thank you, Audrey," Laura said softly, her eyes meeting mine. "I couldn't have done this without you."

I reached out, taking her hand in mine. "We're in this together, Laura. I promised you that."

As the night wore on, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were on the brink of something monumental. The battle was far from over, but for the first time, we had the upper hand. And I knew that no matter what came next, we would face it together.