Chapter 9 - Run Toward the Light
Daniel started the engine before Claire could speak. In the mirror, a black SUV turned off the service road and accelerated toward them.
"Seat belt," he said.
"Already on."
"Eli's?"
"Tight. Go."
He took the next right, then another, letting traffic and delivery trucks block his path. The SUV stayed close until a police cruiser appeared behind it with lights flashing. The vehicle veered across two lanes, clipped a trash can, and vanished down an alley.
At the station, Malik was furious. "I told you to stay away."
"We saw Nora," Claire replied.
"You saw someone. That's different."
Daniel snapped, "Someone who knew our names and warned us about that SUV. Can we argue after you find them?"
For the first time, Malik looked as exhausted as Daniel felt. "We're trying. The man who ran from storage is being questioned. The bin contains material that may connect the collapse to later falsified inspection reports. We need time."
"We don't have time," Claire said.
She was right. Eli's nap schedule had turned into a series of car rides. He asked for home whenever they passed a yellow house. Daniel had begun measuring normal life in ridiculous units: one entire breakfast without panic; five uninterrupted minutes of cartoons; a shower with the door closed.
That evening, the safe house lost electricity. The street outside remained bright. Daniel checked the breakers, then heard gravel crunch under the back steps.
"Claire," he said, low. "Bathroom. Lock it."
She lifted Eli and went. Daniel picked up a heavy lamp, its cord trailing like a useless tail.
A figure appeared beyond the kitchen window. He had a shaved jaw and a navy baseball cap. Owen. Daniel knew because Claire had finally shown him the uncut family photograph.
May you like
Owen held up both empty hands. "I'm not here to hurt you," he whispered through the glass.
Behind him, a red laser dot appeared on the wall, level with his chest.
