When she reached the address Jake had sent her, Claire found herself in front of a run-down, abandoned building on the outskirts of the city. It was the kind of place that looked like it had long been forgotten, and for a moment, Claire hesitated. But then she reminded herself why she was there.
She slipped out of the car, glancing around to make sure no one had followed her. The air was thick with tension, and every sound made her jump. She approached the building and found the side door unlocked, just as Jake had said.
Inside, the place was dark and smelled of damp wood and dust. She made her way through the narrow hallway, her footsteps echoing in the stillness. Finally, she came to a small room at the end of the hall, where the dim light of a single lamp flickered.
Anthony was there, sitting on a makeshift cot, his face bruised and swollen, one eye nearly shut. He looked up as she entered, his expression a mixture of relief and shame.
