CHAPTER 5 — The Secret Hidden Inside Sophie's Backpack
After escaping through the building's basement, Marcus drove Lily and Sophie to one of his private lake houses outside Chicago.
Only three people knew the location.
Or so he believed.
Hours later...
The little cabin finally felt safe.
Lily sat wrapped in a blanket while Sophie quietly colored pictures at the kitchen table.
Marcus couldn't stop thinking about one question.
"Why are they really after you?"
Lily closed her eyes.
"They're not."
"They're after something I promised to protect."
She slowly looked toward Sophie.
"The backpack."
Marcus frowned.
"The backpack?"
Sophie carefully placed it on the table.
It looked worthless.
Old fabric.
Broken zipper.
Faded purple color.
Marcus opened the largest pocket.
Nothing but schoolbooks.
Crayons.
A stuffed rabbit.
Then Sophie whispered...
"Check the bottom."
He felt something solid beneath the lining.
Using a pocketknife, he carefully cut the fabric open.
A hidden compartment appeared.
Inside was a tiny encrypted flash drive.
And an old silver key.
Attached was a handwritten note.
If anything happens to me... give this to Marcus Reed.
Marcus looked at Lily.
"You knew this was here?"
She nodded.
"My father hid it before he died."
"I never opened it."
"I was waiting until I knew who I could trust."
Marcus inserted the flash drive into his laptop.
A password screen appeared.
Then...
Without warning...
The computer unlocked itself.
Video files filled the screen.
The first recording was dated twenty years earlier.
Marcus clicked PLAY.
The image shook.
Smoke.
Sirens.
His father appeared on screen.
Covered in blood.
Looking directly into the camera.
"Marcus..."
May you like
"If you're seeing this..."
"They're still alive."
