When She Rose From the Ashes (Natalie and Jensen) novel Chapter 349

Chapter 349 The Hidden Interrogation

Chapter 349 The Hidden Interrogation

Natalie’s situation was far worse.

They took her to a small, windowless room.

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There was nothing inside–only a chair and an interrogation table, with a single desk lamp fixed above it.

After they led her in, a man came through the door.

He wasn’t in uniform; he wore a black suit, and Natalie couldn’t tell from the poor light whether he was part of the system or some outside agent.

Her stomach tightened. It was impossible not to be afraid.

What case have they tied me to? she wondered. Is this about Mr. Rigel? Or did Anna die? Anna had been taken by Baron’s people, but who could say whether someone might have silenced her to cover their tracks?

If it were Anna, Natalie had indeed argued with her–but murder? At worst she’d acted in self- defense.

Thinking that through eased her a little.

The man looked to be in his forties or fifties. The glare hid his features, but his watching eyes made Natalie uncomfortable.

“I’m only here to give a statement. Bringing me to a place like this is illegal,” she said calmly— no panic, no bravado, just a steady voice.

He said nothing. Instead he snapped on the desk lamp and aimed the harsh beam directly into her face.

The light stung. Natalie squinted and raised an arm to shield her eyes.

Someone moved quickly next to her.

Before she could say anything, she felt a needle plunge into the soft skin at the base of her neck.

A cold liquid slid into her bloodstream. By the time she realized what had happened, the syringe had already been withdrawn and the man backed away.

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Chapter 349 The Hidden Interrogation

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Her heart dropped. “What did you inject into me? This is illegal. Who are you? Why aren’t you in uniform? You-”

Questions crowded her, but the room tilted. Dizziness swept over her and her thoughts began to fragment.

She reached for something to grab, anything at all–but there was nothing within reach.

As her vision blurred and consciousness fled, she heard one of them say, “Before anyone notices, toss her outside.”

Only then did Natalie understand: these weren’t police officers at all.

Who were they? How dare they pretend to be the police and haul her off? What had they injected into her? Would she live?

In the confusion, an image floated through her clouded mind–Baron. She imagined his face streaked with tears over her body.

Her chest ached.

If this were the end–if she died now–what would she leave behind for her children? They had only just begun to know her. She hadn’t had the chance to be the kind of mother she wanted to be.

She refused to let it end like that.

But there was nothing she could do.

“Baron…” she whispered. A single tear slipped from the corner of her eye, and then she blacked

out.

Baron, meanwhile, didn’t know what had happened to her. He’d gone straight to the black market clinic.

The underworld contacts arrived fast.

“Witch Doctor, please–save my wife. I’ll pay any price. I’ll sell everything if I have to,” Payne begged. He was a straight–laced man by nature, but when his family was at stake he humbled himself. His wife’s business had left them some savings; he had no pride left now. Whatever it took, he would do.

Baron knew Payne’s position in the system. He nodded, cool and measured. “I’ve read her file. I can treat her, but I won’t take money.”

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Chapter 349 The Hidden Interrogation

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Payne startled. He knew Witch Doctor’s rules and offered whatever he could. “Then what do you want? Take my life if you must–just save her.”

“I don’t want your life,” Baron said. “I need you to make a call. Get one person released. If she’s brought out unharmed, I’ll treat your wife and take no fee.”

Payne blinked, startled and uneasy. “I’m not going to break the law for you.”

“Relax. The person I need freed isn’t a criminal. She’s a victim.” Baron’s voice held iron conviction.

“What do you mean?” Payne asked.

Baron told him about Natalie.

Payne shook his head. “Impossible. That wouldn’t follow procedure. If you’re right and Ms. Stone is a victim, she shouldn’t have been taken. You need an arrest warrant to detain someone -did you see one?”