Sarah moved swiftly through the darkened streets, her mind racing with questions. The key Marla had given her felt like it was burning a hole in her pocket. She knew this was a critical piece of the puzzle, but the address scrawled on the slip of paper was in a part of town she’d never ventured into—a desolate area known for its abandoned warehouses and empty lots, far from prying eyes.
The city grew quieter as she approached the address. The air was thick, and the streetlights cast an eerie glow over the deserted buildings. Finally, she found it: a nondescript building with boarded-up windows and a single rusted door. She tried the door, and to her surprise, it opened with a soft creak, revealing a staircase leading down into darkness.
Taking a deep breath, Sarah descended the stairs, her heart pounding. At the bottom, she found a small room with a dusty safe against one wall. The safe looked untouched, its surface coated in layers of grime, as if it hadn’t been opened in years. With steady hands, Sarah inserted the key, feeling it click into place. She twisted it, and the door swung open, revealing a collection of documents and an old leather-bound notebook.
She pulled the notebook out first, its cover faded and worn. Flipping through the pages, Sarah realized it was Elizabeth’s diary. Her breath caught as she read the first few lines, revealing a story of betrayal and hidden deals, and a haunting entry about her discovery of Bennett’s involvement in illegal schemes. Elizabeth had been on the verge of exposing him before she vanished.
Just as Sarah processed this revelation, she heard footsteps above. Panic surged through her—Bennett’s men were here. Quickly, she shoved the diary and papers into her bag and extinguished her flashlight. She’d barely made it to the staircase when she saw shadows moving at the top.
With no other choice, Sarah ducked behind an old cabinet, clutching her bag close. The footsteps grew louder, accompanied by voices discussing orders to search every corner. She knew she had only seconds before they reached her hiding spot.