CHAPTER 8 — THE EVIDENCE THAT COULD DESTROY A GOVERNOR
“There’s another exit,” Rose said.
“But if we use it, they’ll know exactly where we’re going.”
“We don't have a choice.”
Rose picked up the waterproof case containing the flash drive.
Emma grabbed Olivia’s journals.
Ella stuffed family photographs into a backpack.
Nothing else mattered.
We ran.
The tunnel narrowed until we were forced to move single file.
Behind us came shouting.
Flashlights.
Boots striking stone.
Then—
Gunfire.
Bullets ricocheted off the tunnel walls.
“Keep moving!” I yelled.
Emma stumbled.
I caught her before she fell.
“No one gets left behind.”
The twins nodded together.
Exactly as Olivia had taught them.
Twenty minutes later, cold mountain air rushed across our faces.
We emerged beside a roaring waterfall hidden inside a narrow canyon.
No roads.
No cellphone signal.
Only wilderness.
For a brief moment, I believed we had escaped.
Then helicopters appeared overhead.
Black helicopters.
Unmarked.
Searchlights swept across the trees.
“They've got aircraft,” I muttered.
Rose wasn't surprised.
“Governor Harrison owns a private security company.”
Of course he did.
The corruption reached farther than I'd imagined.
Suddenly my phone vibrated.
One missed call.
Unknown number.
Then another.
Against my better judgment, I answered.
A calm female voice spoke.
“Mr. Brooks?”
“Yes.”
“My name is Rachel Monroe.”
“Who are you?”
“Special Agent with the FBI.”
I froze.
“How did you get this number?”
“Olivia gave it to me.”
My entire body went still.
“She contacted our office eight months before her death.”
“What?”
“She believed powerful officials were covering up multiple murders.”
Hope flickered for the first time in years.
“We have the evidence.”
“I know.”
“But so does Governor Harrison.”
My stomach tightened.
Rachel's voice became urgent.
“Do not trust local law enforcement.”
“I already made that mistake.”
“We're sending a tactical team.”
“When?”
A pause.
Then the words that shattered my hope.
“They're trying to stop us.”
The call abruptly disconnected.
Seconds later...
Rose stared toward the ridge above us.
“They're here.”
Dozens of armed men surrounded the canyon.
At their center stood Governor Harrison himself.
He wasn't smiling anymore.
He slowly removed his sunglasses.
“You've caused enough trouble,” he called.
May you like
“Hand me the flash drive.”
“No one else has to die.”
