The drive to the coast was long and tense. The sun had set by the time they arrived at the old lighthouse, its crumbling structure standing tall against the backdrop of crashing waves and moonlit clouds. The area was deserted, as Marriam had expected. It had been abandoned for years, and now it was nothing more than a relic of a forgotten era.
Jay parked the car a good distance away from the lighthouse, hidden behind a cluster of trees. Ellen stayed behind, keeping watch, while Jay and Marriam made their way toward the meeting point.
"You sure about this?" Jay asked, his voice low as they walked in the dim light.
Marriam nodded, though the unease in her stomach was undeniable. "We don't have a choice. We need him."
Jay glanced at the lighthouse, its once-white walls now chipped and weathered by time. "We'll stay close. If anything goes wrong…"
"I know," Marriam said softly. "But I need to do this."
They reached the base of the lighthouse, and Jay ducked out of sight, hiding behind some rocks. Marriam took a deep breath before stepping inside the hollow structure. The air was thick with the smell of saltwater and decay, and the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks echoed eerily inside the building.
She stood in the center of the lighthouse, waiting. The only light came from the moon, filtering in through the cracks and holes in the structure. It felt like time slowed as she waited, her heart pounding in her chest.
Finally, the sound of footsteps approached from the shadows. Marriam tensed, her hand instinctively moving toward her phone. But as the figure came into view, she recognized Alex's familiar face, though he looked older and more worn than she remembered.
"Marriam," Alex greeted her, his voice low but friendly. "It's been a while."
She exhaled, relieved. "It has. I wasn't sure you'd come."
Alex smirked, glancing around the desolate lighthouse. "I'm not in the habit of meeting old friends in places like this. What's going on?"
Marriam got straight to the point. "I need your help. It's about Richard Voss."
Alex's expression hardened immediately, his eyes narrowing. "You're mixed up with Voss?"
"I didn't mean to be," Marriam said quickly. "But now I'm in deep, and we have information—real, damaging information that could take him down. We need someone we can trust, someone who can help us expose him without getting us killed in the process."
Alex crossed his arms, his face unreadable. "And you think that's me?"
"I do," Marriam said, her voice steady. "You've spent your whole career uncovering corruption, exposing people like Richard. I know you can help us."
There was a long pause as Alex studied her, weighing her words. Then, finally, he nodded. "Alright. Show me what you've got."
Marriam reached into her pocket, pulling out the flash drive. "This is just the start, but it's enough to make people ask questions. We need to be careful—Richard's already hunting us."
Alex took the drive, his eyes lingering on it for a moment before he slipped it into his jacket pocket. "I'll look into it. But Marriam, if this is as big as you say it is, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. You're putting a target on your back, and it's not just Richard who'll come after you. His enemies might want you silenced too."
Marriam swallowed hard, her resolve firm. "I know the risks. But we're in too deep to turn back now."
Alex nodded again, his expression softening slightly. "Alright. I'll be in touch soon. But until then, stay low. And don't trust anyone else."
Marriam watched as he turned and disappeared into the night, leaving her standing alone in the cold, salty air of the abandoned lighthouse. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her hands trembling slightly.
She hurried back to Jay, who emerged from his hiding spot, his face tense with concern.
"How'd it go?" he asked.
Marriam nodded. "He's going to help us. But we need to be careful. Things are about to get a lot more dangerous."
As they made their way back to the car, the sound of the waves crashing against the shore echoed in her ears. They had an ally now, but with every step forward, the dangers grew. The clock was ticking, and Richard wouldn't stop until they were all silenced.
The real battle had just begun.