Chapter 30
Sienna stood paralyzed in the center of the room, watching his broad shoulders disappear down the hallway. It felt as if a sledgehammer had violently caved in her chest, leaving behind a sprawling, agonizing ache.
Once again, she was forced to experience the sheer, unadulterated cruelty Jarred was capable of.
The news of Sienna’s suspension ripped through the precinct like wildfire.
The second she walked out of the building, Luna was already pacing at the intersection waiting for her.
Luna grabbed her arm and dragged her into a secluded alleyway. “I’ve been digging all day, and I hit the jackpot p>
She whipped out her phone, pulling up a grainy security video. “Look at this. The day before the op, Celeste walked into the precinct with Jarred.
The second Jarred went into his briefing, she just started wandering around the building entirely unsupervised.
This camera caught her stepping off the elevator on the executive floor, but it cuts out right at the blind spot. We can’t see if she went into the actual offices p>
“Let me see that.” Sienna snatched the phone from her hand.
Luna was practically vibrating with rage. “I had to call in a million favors just to get my hands on this clip. This was a premeditated strike.
And get this—the internal network was completely down for maintenance that day. Half the cameras were offline. Why else would she pick that exact moment to visit unless she had something to hide?
I guarantee you she used that window to swap out your evaluation form p>
Sienna stared at the screen, her mind racing. “Is this footage verified p>
“I had Nolan copy it directly from the servers!” Luna’s eyes blazed with conviction. “She just happened to show up on the exact day the network was down, and the exact day your paperwork got switched.
She only has the guts to pull a stunt like this inside a police station because she knows she has Jarred shielding her from the fallout p>
Sienna honestly couldn’t think of a single other person deranged enough to sabotage a police operation just to settle a grudge.
But circumstantial evidence and a grainy video clip weren’t enough to secure a conviction against Celeste.
“Sienna, what’s our play?” Luna demanded. “She orchestrated a full-blown suspension. If we don’t destroy her for this, it’s basically giving her a free pass p>
A lethal, icy glint flashed through Sienna’s eyes. “Don’t worry. I’m not letting her walk away from this p>
Sticking to her prior commitments, Sienna arrived at the Zeller estate to treat Maxwell Zeller.
Despite her suspension at the precinct, this was a private, independent consultation, and she wasn’t about to let her patient suffer.
Agnes Zeller was overjoyed to see her. “Sienna, we seriously owe you our lives! We’ve been following your exact protocol, and Maxwell’s episodes have plummeted.
He still loses control occasionally, but the overall progress is nothing short of a miracle p>
Sienna offered a warm, professional smile. “You’re too kind, Mrs. Zeller. I’m just doing my job. By the way, is Maxwell receiving any secondary treatments or therapies outside of my sessions p>
The matriarch instantly caught her drift, her expression hardening. “You’re talking about Dr. Carlyle, aren’t you? The absolute second you took over his case, we officially terminated her services.
She’s tried to claw her way back in a few times, but I shut her down permanently. You’re the only doctor we trust p>
The puzzle pieces snapped violently into place. Sienna finally understood exactly why Celeste was out for her blood. Taking the Zeller account was the ultimate insult.
Masking her realization behind a neutral expression, Sienna nodded politely. “Mrs. Zeller, I’ll go ahead and begin Maxwell’s session p>
“Of course p>
Agnes nodded, leading the staff out of the room and closing the door behind them, just as they always did.
The session proceeded even faster than the last, the entire process remarkably smooth.
By the time she finished, Maxwell’s vitals were visibly stronger.
However, when Sienna stepped out, her expression was grim. “Mrs. Zeller, Maxwell’s emotional state isn’t adding up. Based on his clinical progress, his baseline should be far more stable by now. It feels as if an external variable is actively disrupting his psychological state p>
The matriarch panicked instantly. “But no one else enters that room besides you and him! Aside from the maids bringing his meals and cleaning, he’s completely isolated! What on earth could be messing with him p>