Chapter 13: I Wasn't Going to Let Them Escape

Liam's POV

Daniel's weight nearly dragged me to the floor.

Blood soaked through my hands as I pulled him toward the back staircase.

"Stay awake," I whispered. "We're getting out of here."

Daniel's breathing was ragged, but he nodded weakly.

Another gunshot tore through the warehouse.

I ducked behind a concrete pillar as bullets struck the metal railing above us.

They weren't trying to scare us.

They were trying to silence us.

I pulled out my phone and called emergency services.

"There's been a shooting at an abandoned warehouse. One man is seriously injured. Send an ambulance and police immediately."

I gave them the location and ended the call.

Daniel grabbed my sleeve.

"The flash drive..."

"I have it."

"Don't give it to anyone except the police."

"I won't."

I helped him through the back door and into the alley.

We hadn't gone more than a few steps when headlights appeared at the end of the street.

Another vehicle.

My heart sank.

They had surrounded the building.

I pulled Daniel behind a stack of crates.

"Can you walk?"

"Barely."

"Then we're crawling."

We moved slowly through the narrow alley while footsteps echoed behind us.

One of the men shouted, "Find them! They can't have gone far!"

I held my breath.

Daniel's blood left a trail on the pavement.

If they followed it, we'd be caught.

I tore off part of my shirt and pressed it against his wound.

"Hold this."

He did as I told him.

A police siren suddenly sounded in the distance.

The men outside froze.

"Police!" someone shouted.

They scattered immediately.

I waited until the footsteps disappeared before dragging Daniel toward the main road.

An ambulance arrived moments later.

Paramedics rushed toward us.

"He's been shot!" I shouted.

They placed Daniel on a stretcher and began treating him.

One of the police officers approached me.

"Were you the caller?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

I looked toward the warehouse.

"We were meeting there because he had evidence about my son's death."

The officer's expression changed.

"Your son?"

"Andy Morrison. Four years old."

I pulled the flash drive from my pocket.

"This contains recordings, financial records, and surveillance footage. It proves that my son's accident was deliberately arranged."

The officer took the drive carefully.

"We'll make sure it's secured."

For the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe.

But my relief lasted only a few seconds.

My phone began ringing.

Gwen.

I stared at her name on the screen.

After everything she'd done, I still couldn't understand why she was calling me now.

I answered.

"Liam, where are you?"

Her voice was trembling.

"Why?"

"Because Pierce is missing."

I went silent.

"What do you mean he's missing?"

"He left the hospital an hour ago. His room was empty. His phone is off."

I looked toward Daniel being loaded into the ambulance.

Something wasn't right.

"Gwen, did Pierce know where Daniel was tonight?"

There was a long silence.

"I... I don't know."

"Don't lie to me."

Her breathing became uneven.

"Liam, please. I need to talk to you."

"You had plenty of chances to talk to me."

I ended the call.

A police officer walked over.

"Mr. Morrison, we need you to come with us. There's something else you should know."

"What?"

He showed me a photograph on his phone.

It was Pierce.

He had been caught on a security camera leaving the hospital.

But he wasn't alone.

A woman was walking beside him.

I stared at the image.

Gwen.

My stomach dropped.

"They left together," the officer said.

I looked at the flash drive in his hand.

Then I looked toward the ambulance carrying Daniel away.

Gwen and Pierce were running.

They knew the truth was coming out.

And now they were desperate enough to disappear.

I turned toward the officer.

"Don't let them leave the city."

My voice was steady.

"They killed my son. I'm not letting them escape justice."