Sarah’s heart pounded as she pressed herself against the cold, metal cabinet, trying to steady her breathing. She could hear the men’s voices growing closer, their footsteps slow and methodical. They were combing through the room with military precision, clearly following strict orders to find anything—or anyone—left behind.
One of the men stepped right in front of her hiding place. She could make out the heavy tread of his boots, the click of his flashlight as it swept across the room, and the unmistakable hum of a radio at his waist. Sarah tightened her grip on the strap of her bag, every nerve in her body on high alert.
After what felt like an eternity, the man moved past, barking something unintelligible to his partner. As their footsteps faded momentarily, Sarah saw her chance. Moving with practiced silence, she slipped out from behind the cabinet and made her way back toward the staircase, staying low to avoid detection. She could hear the men talking near the entrance, but there was a small, rusted door in the far corner that she hadn’t noticed before.
Sarah reached the door and gently eased it open, revealing a dark, narrow passageway. She slid inside, closing it softly behind her, and found herself in an abandoned tunnel that seemed to run parallel to the building. The air was damp and thick with dust, but it was a way out.
She moved quickly through the passage, guided only by the faint glow from her phone’s flashlight. Her mind reeled with the information she’d just uncovered from Elizabeth’s diary—details about Bennett’s criminal dealings, his manipulation of people’s lives, and the reason Elizabeth had tried to vanish without a trace.
Finally, she reached the end of the tunnel, which opened into an alleyway behind the building. As Sarah stepped out into the open air, she heard the rumble of an engine. A sleek, black car was parked nearby, its windows tinted. Just as she thought she was in the clear, the passenger door opened, and a familiar face stepped out—Victor, Bennett’s right-hand man.