The moment Victor and his men left the bar, Sarah felt a mix of relief and urgency. They couldn’t stay there any longer; it was only a matter of time before Victor returned with reinforcements. She turned to Rico and the journalist, her eyes wide with determination.
“We have to go. Now.”
“Agreed,” Rico said, already standing up. “Let’s head to my place. It’s off the grid, and we’ll have some time to strategize.”
The journalist nodded, and together they slipped out of the bar, staying low and moving quickly through the maze of alleyways. Each corner they turned felt like a step closer to danger, but Sarah pushed the fear aside. She had come too far to back down now.
When they arrived at Rico’s apartment, he quickly ushered them inside and locked the door behind them. The dimly lit space was cluttered with old newspapers, documents, and a map of the city covered in red circles and notes. It smelled of stale coffee and something deeper, more urgent—a sense of purpose.
“Alright,” Rico said, pulling out a chair for the journalist. “What’s your name?”
“Clara,” she replied, settling in as she opened her notepad. “We need to consolidate what you have, Sarah. Show me the diary.”
Sarah handed over the leather-bound notebook, her heart pounding with anticipation. Clara flipped through the pages, her brow furrowing as she read the details. The atmosphere was charged with tension, each word holding the weight of their mission.
“Bennett’s connections run deeper than I thought,” Clara murmured, jotting down notes. “If we can verify this information, we could have enough for a major expose. But we need to be careful. He has ears everywhere.”
“What do you suggest?” Sarah asked, eager to take the next step.
Clara looked up, her expression serious. “First, we need to secure the evidence. If anything happens to this diary, we’ll lose our only chance to take him down. We should meet with my contact at the local newspaper. He can help us get this to the right people without Bennett’s influence.”
“Let’s do it,” Rico said, glancing at the window. “But we have to make sure we’re not followed. If Bennett has already put out word about you, it could be dangerous.”
“Agreed,” Sarah said, her mind racing. “We should split up. I can go with Clara, and you can create a distraction.”
“No way,” Rico said, shaking his head. “I’m not letting you go out there alone, especially not with Victor hunting you down. We need to stick together.”
As they debated their options, the sound of footsteps echoed outside, causing all three of them to freeze. Sarah felt her stomach drop. The timing couldn’t be worse.
“Hide!” Rico hissed, motioning toward a small closet in the corner.
Clara and Sarah dove into the closet, barely able to breathe as they pressed against the coats hanging inside. The door barely closed when the sounds of heavy footsteps filled the room, followed by a sharp knock.
“Rico! Open up!” Victor’s voice barked, demanding attention.
Heart racing, Sarah held her breath, straining to hear the exchange.
“Come on, Rico. We know you’re in there,” Victor continued, the urgency in his tone growing. “You’ve been playing both sides long enough. We just want to talk.”
Rico’s voice, steady but tight, came next. “I’m not opening the door, Victor. I have nothing to say to you.”
There was a pause, and Sarah could hear Victor’s footsteps pacing, a predator circling its prey. “You’re making a mistake. If you don’t cooperate, this won’t end well for you. Let’s make this easy.”
Sarah felt a rush of anger and fear wash over her. She couldn’t let Victor intimidate Rico like this. He had helped her when no one else would.
Suddenly, the sound of a loud crash echoed through the apartment. Victor had kicked the door open.
“Get out here, Rico!” he shouted, his voice dripping with menace.
As Sarah and Clara exchanged worried glances in the dark, a plan began to form in Sarah’s mind. If they could distract Victor, they might be able to escape through the back. But time was running out, and they had to act fast.