The quiet hum of the interrogation room’s fluorescent light was deafening. Clara sat alone now, her cuffed hands resting on the steel table. The cold metal beneath her palms grounded her, but the storm inside her mind raged on. Somewhere beyond these walls, the machine they had set into motion was still grinding forward. Every second they were held here was another second the truth slipped further out of reach.

The door creaked open, and Lila was led in, her expression grim but defiant. She dropped into the chair opposite Clara, her eyes locking onto hers.

“They let me go—for now,” Lila said, leaning forward. “Shultz might be playing it cool, but he’s scared. This thing goes deeper than he’s letting on. We’re running out of time.”

Clara frowned. “What do you mean they let you go? What about Marco?”

“Still locked up,” Lila replied, her voice tight. “They’re splitting us up on purpose. Divide and conquer. They’re trying to make us panic.”

Clara nodded slowly, her mind piecing together the implications. “It’s not just about us anymore. Shultz knows something—or someone—is pressuring him. Did he say anything to you?”

Lila hesitated, glancing toward the door as if someone might be listening. “Not directly, but he hinted at a storm coming. Said we’d dragged too many people into this, and now everyone’s looking to cover their tracks. If we don’t act fast, we’re dead in the water.”

Clara’s stomach churned. The weight of their situation pressed down on her, suffocating in its intensity. Every step forward felt like sinking deeper into quicksand.

“We need to get Marco out,” Clara said firmly. “And we need to find Hannah again. She’s the only one with the leverage we need.”

Lila’s eyes narrowed. “Are you sure we can trust her? She’s a Lark, Clara. That name carries more skeletons than this precinct’s evidence room.”

“No,” Clara admitted, “but I think she’s desperate. That makes her dangerous, but it also makes her useful. If her brother’s as entrenched as she says, she knows where the bodies are buried—maybe even literally.”

Lila leaned back, crossing her arms. “Fine. But if she even thinks about turning on us, I’ll handle her myself.”

Before Clara could respond, the door opened again, and an officer stepped inside. “You’re free to go,” he said curtly, uncuffing Clara without meeting her eyes.

“What about Marco?” Clara demanded, rubbing her sore wrists.

“He’s staying,” the officer replied, his tone flat. “Pending further questioning.”

Clara and Lila exchanged a look but said nothing. It was clear this wasn’t just about Marco—it was about sending a message.

----------------------------------------

Outside the precinct, the air was damp and heavy, the faint scent of saltwater drifting in from the bay. Lila lit a cigarette with shaky hands, her face illuminated briefly by the flickering flame.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“What’s the plan?” she asked, exhaling a plume of smoke.

Clara glanced around, her mind racing. “We need to regroup somewhere safe. My apartment’s out; they’ll be watching it.”

“I’ve got a place,” Lila said. “It’s not much, but it’s off the radar. We’ll lay low and figure out our next move.”

The drive to Lila’s hideout was tense and silent. The streets of Blackwater Bay seemed darker than usual, the familiar landmarks now cloaked in an ominous shadow. Clara couldn’t shake the feeling that they were being watched.

When they arrived, Lila led Clara to a run-down loft on the edge of town, tucked above an abandoned warehouse. The place smelled of mildew and dust, but it was secluded. Safe enough, for now.

As they settled in, Clara’s phone buzzed. A single text lit up the screen:

“We need to talk. Tonight. - H”

Clara stared at the message, her mind racing. Hannah was reaching out. That could mean a trap—or it could mean their only chance to stay ahead of the storm.

“She’s biting,” Clara said, showing Lila the message.

Lila frowned. “This could go sideways fast. If you’re meeting her, you need backup.”

Clara shook her head. “If she sees you, she might shut down. I’ll go alone. Keep digging while I’m gone. See if you can find anything to use as leverage against Shultz or the Larks.”

Lila hesitated, but eventually nodded. “Be careful, Clara. If this is a setup, we won’t get a second chance.”

----------------------------------------

The meeting place was a diner on the edge of town, one of those 24-hour spots that catered to truckers and night owls. The neon sign buzzed faintly, casting eerie red and blue hues across the parking lot. Clara parked her car in the shadows and stepped inside, her hand instinctively brushing the grip of her concealed weapon.

Hannah was already there, seated in a corner booth with her back to the wall. She looked up as Clara approached, her expression guarded.

“You came,” Hannah said, her voice soft but tense.

Clara slid into the booth, her eyes scanning the room. “You said we needed to talk. So talk.”

Hannah leaned forward, her hands clasped tightly on the table. “You were right. The ledger—it’s the key to everything. But if you want it, you’ll have to move fast. My brother knows it’s missing, and he’s already putting plans in motion to recover it.”

“Where is it?” Clara asked, her voice sharp.

Hannah hesitated, her eyes flickering with doubt. “It’s not in Blackwater Bay anymore. He sent it to a secure location—somewhere even I don’t know. But there’s someone who does.”

Clara’s stomach dropped. “Who?”

Hannah’s voice dropped to a whisper. “A man named Victor Kane. He’s one of my brother’s closest associates—and the one person who might know where the ledger is being kept.”

Clara’s mind raced. Victor Kane. The name was unfamiliar, but it carried weight in Hannah’s voice. If this man had the information they needed, he was now their only lead.

“Why are you telling me this?” Clara asked, her eyes narrowing. “What’s in it for you?”

Hannah’s expression hardened. “Because if this comes to light, my brother will burn. And if he burns, so does my family. I need you to end this before it destroys everything.”

Clara studied her carefully, searching for any sign of deception. But all she saw was desperation.

“Fine,” Clara said finally. “But if you’re lying to me—”

“I’m not,” Hannah cut in, her voice firm. “But you need to hurry. Kane isn’t the kind of man who stays in one place for long. If he finds out you’re looking for him, he’ll disappear—and so will the ledger.”

As Clara stood to leave, Hannah grabbed her wrist. “Be careful, Clara. You have no idea how deep this goes.”

Clara pulled her hand away, her resolve hardening. “I’ll find Kane. And when I do, this ends.”

----------------------------------------

Back at the loft, Clara relayed everything to Lila. They worked through the night, piecing together a plan. But as dawn broke over Blackwater Bay, Clara couldn’t shake the feeling that their time was running out.

The shadows were closing in, and the deeper they dug, the more dangerous their enemies became. But Clara knew one thing for certain: they couldn’t stop now. Not when the truth was so close.

And not when the cost of failure was everything.