The night was silent as Sarah approached the crumbling building at the edge of town. Its windows were broken, shards of glass catching the moonlight like jagged teeth, and ivy crawled up its sides, as if nature was trying to reclaim it. Sarah felt a chill run down her spine, but she pressed forward, her hand resting on the concealed blade in her pocket.

She slipped inside through a side door, her footsteps echoing in the dark, empty hallway. Her heart pounded as she strained to hear anything over the drip of water and the distant hum of the city. She turned a corner and found herself in a large room filled with old furniture and scattered papers. A desk sat against the far wall, cluttered with notes, some scribbled frantically in handwriting she didn’t recognize.

She sifted through the papers, hoping for a clue, and then she found it—a photograph. Sarah’s breath caught as she looked at the faded image of Elizabeth Harper standing beside an unfamiliar man. They looked close, almost intimate. Her mind raced as she tried to piece together what it meant. Was this the reason Harper had disappeared?

Before she could think further, a creak from the hallway snapped her out of her thoughts. She wasn’t alone.

Swiftly, she tucked the photograph into her coat and slipped into the shadows, her body tense. The footsteps drew closer, deliberate and unhurried. Then she saw him—a tall, muscular man with a tattoo creeping up his neck. One of Bennett’s men. He paused, scanning the room with cold, calculating eyes.

“Come out, little fox,” he called in a low, mocking voice. “You’re not as clever as you think.”

Sarah stayed perfectly still, her heart pounding. She could feel her pulse in her fingertips as she gripped her blade, waiting for the right moment. But just as she was about to spring into action, a hand clamped over her mouth, pulling her deeper into the shadows.

“Quiet,” a voice whispered urgently. It was a woman, her voice low and steady. Sarah’s pulse raced, but she recognized the face—Marla.

With Marla’s grip still on her, they moved silently down a hidden staircase into a dank basement. Only when they were safely hidden did Marla release her.

“Are you insane, coming here alone?” Marla hissed, her eyes flashing. “Bennett’s men have been circling like vultures. You’re lucky I got to you first.”

“I’m looking for Elizabeth Harper,” Sarah said, regaining her composure. “I need to know why Bennett’s after her.”

Marla hesitated, her gaze shifting as if she was weighing whether to trust Sarah. Finally, she nodded. “Fine. But if you’re going after her, you’re going to need more than just courage.”

She handed Sarah a small key and a slip of paper with an address. “Elizabeth kept some things hidden away. This will lead you to the answers you’re looking for. But be warned—once you go down this path, there’s no going back.”

Before Sarah could respond, they heard footsteps above, louder this time. Marla looked at her, eyes fierce. “Now, go. And don’t let them see you.”

With her heart pounding, Sarah pocketed the key and made her way out through a hidden exit Marla showed her. As she slipped into the night, the weight of the key felt heavy in her hand. She didn’t know what lay ahead, but one thing was certain—she was closing in on the truth.

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