Chapter 10 - The Road
The pickup fishtailed.
Rachel screamed.
Michael fought the wheel.
“Hold on!”
The SUV hit them again.
Leo slammed against the door.
Victor pulled him toward the center.
“Stay down!”
Henry groaned from the back seat.
Another impact.
Metal screamed.
Michael accelerated.
The old truck shook violently.
Rachel looked behind them.
“They’re coming again!”
Michael swerved as the SUV tried to pull alongside.
Leo saw a man in the passenger window.
Gun.
“Dad!”
Michael ducked.
A shot shattered the rear window.
Glass sprayed across the seats.
Victor shouted.
“Take the logging road!”
Michael turned sharply onto a dirt track.
The SUV followed.
Trees blurred past.
Leo crouched on the floor.
His hand closed around the flash drive in his pocket.
Fourteen million dollars.
Fake deaths.
His father alive.
Grandpa kidnapped.
And somehow the whole thing led back to a man Grandpa thought was dead.
Michael drove like someone who had been chased before.
That scared Leo.
The road narrowed.
The SUV gained.
Henry looked toward Leo.
“The drive.”
“What?”
“If they catch us, destroy it.”
Michael shouted, “No!”
Henry glared.
“That evidence cannot fall into Samuel’s hands.”
“It’s not the only copy.”
Everyone looked at Michael.
Henry’s expression changed.
“You copied my files?”
“I found your backup server.”
“When?”
“Two nights ago.”
Henry stared.
Then a strange smile appeared.
“Good.”
Michael took another turn.
The SUV overshot.
For several seconds, they had space.
Rachel looked at him.
“Where are we going?”
“County sheriff’s office.”
Henry shook his head.
“No.”
Michael glanced over.
“Why?”
“Samuel owns Sheriff Dalton.”
Michael’s face tightened.
“You’re sure?”
“He’s been on Caldwell’s private security payroll for twelve years.”
Victor swore.
“Then where?”
Henry gave an address.
Rachel recognized it.
“That’s the old Caldwell textile mill.”
“Closed fifteen years ago.”
“Exactly.”
Michael looked at him.
“What’s there?”
“Proof Samuel can’t erase.”
The truck climbed a hill.
Suddenly flashing blue lights appeared ahead.
A sheriff’s cruiser blocked the road.
Michael braked.
Sheriff Dalton stepped out.
Gun drawn.
“Everybody out of the vehicle!”
Leo looked behind.
The black SUV stopped fifty yards back.
No one got out.
They didn’t need to.
The sheriff was doing the job for them.
Henry leaned toward Leo.
“Listen carefully.”
The boy looked at him.
“Whatever happens next, run to the mill.”
“Grandpa—”
“Do not stop.”
Dalton shouted again.
“Hands where I can see them!”
Michael opened his door slowly.
Henry whispered, “Leo.”
Leo gripped the flash drive.
“Yeah?”
“The truth isn’t on the drive.”
Leo stared.
May you like
Henry looked toward the abandoned mill beyond the trees.
“It’s buried underneath it.”
