Chapter 16: The Escape Before Midnight

The station plunged into darkness.

I heard footsteps rushing across the platform.

Someone shouted for us to hand over the records.

Cole grabbed my hand.

"This way."

Nathan pointed toward an old maintenance corridor.

"There's an exit behind the tracks."

We ran.

A loud crash echoed behind us as someone forced open the station doors.

I held the folder against my chest and followed Cole through the narrow corridor.

Nathan came behind us.

Then a gunshot shattered the silence.

I froze.

Cole pulled me against the wall.

"Don't move."

Another shot struck the metal railing above our heads.

Nathan pushed open a rusted emergency door.

"Go!"

We rushed outside into the cold night air.

A black SUV was waiting near the alley.

For one terrifying second, I thought Richard's men had trapped us.

Then the passenger door opened.

Elise stepped out.

I stared at her in disbelief.

"Elise?"

She looked pale but unharmed.

Cole immediately ran toward her.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

She looked past him and saw me.

Her expression changed.

"Mara, you shouldn't have come."

I walked toward her.

"You disappeared and left a note blaming me."

Her eyes filled with guilt.

"I know."

"You rented an apartment in Lakeside months ago."

"Yes."

"You planned all of this."

Elise lowered her head.

"I planned part of it."

Cole looked at her sharply.

"What does that mean?"

Elise took a breath.

"Richard wasn't the only person involved."

Nathan stepped forward.

"Tell them everything."

Elise looked at me.

"Your father left behind evidence that Richard couldn't destroy. But he also left instructions about who should receive it."

"Me?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

Tears appeared in her eyes.

"Because Richard had already started watching you. I thought if everyone believed you and Cole had broken up, he would stop seeing you as a threat."

I shook my head.

"You could have asked me."

"I was afraid you would refuse."

"You were right."

She looked away.

Cole stepped between us.

"What about the photographs?"

Elise's face tightened.

"Those weren't mine."

I frowned.

"Then who took them?"

Nathan answered.

"Wes."

My heart sank.

"Why would Wes do that?"

"Because he was working for Richard."

Everything suddenly clicked.

The deleted birthday Story.

The messages.

The photograph outside Becca's apartment.

Wes had been feeding Richard information while pretending to help us.

Elise looked at the folder in my hands.

"Do you still have the original records?"

"Yes."

"Then we have a chance."

A police siren sounded in the distance.

The detective had tracked our location after Cole called him.

But before the police arrived, my phone rang.

The screen showed Wes's name.

I answered.

"Mara, listen carefully."

His voice was shaking.

"Richard knows you have the original records."

"Where are you?"

"I'm trying to get away from him."

There was a loud noise in the background.

"Mara, there's something you need to know about Cole."

I looked at Cole.

"What?"

Wes whispered, "The original plan wasn't to protect you."

The call suddenly ended.

Cole's face went pale.

I slowly turned toward him.

"What did he mean?"

Cole said nothing.

And that silence frightened me more than the gunshots.