The wind whipped through the trees as the car sped down the deserted country road. Moonlight filtered through the branches, casting long, eerie shadows across the cracked asphalt. Hayes gripped the steering wheel tightly, their eyes focused ahead as they navigated the winding path toward Reed's safe house. In the passenger seat, Wallace reviewed the hastily scrawled directions Banning had given them, double-checking every turn.
"This place is tucked away in the middle of nowhere," Wallace muttered, flipping the page of their map. "No wonder Reed thinks it's untouchable."
"He's not expecting anyone to get this close," Hayes said, glancing at the empty road behind them. "We need to use that to our advantage."
Banning had been true to his word so far. After several tense hours of questioning, he'd given them the location of the safe house along with the details of its security system. But the fear in his eyes had been genuine, and Hayes knew they had to be careful. Reed wouldn't leave something as critical as this without serious protection.
"We're approaching the turnoff," Wallace said, pointing to a dirt path barely visible in the darkness. "That should take us directly to the property."
Hayes nodded and eased the car onto the narrow path, the tires crunching over gravel and dry leaves. The woods seemed to close in around them as they drove deeper into the forest, the tall trees looming overhead. Every creak of a branch or rustle of leaves set their nerves on edge.
After what felt like an eternity, the dense forest finally gave way to a clearing, and in the distance, the outline of a large, secluded estate came into view. The safe house was a two-story stone building, surrounded by a tall iron fence. Floodlights illuminated the grounds, revealing several security cameras mounted along the perimeter.
"There it is," Hayes said quietly, pulling the car to a stop behind a row of trees. They killed the engine and peered through the windshield at the imposing structure. "Looks quiet, but that doesn't mean it is."
Wallace grabbed a pair of binoculars from the glove compartment and scanned the area. "I count two guards at the front gate," they reported. "Probably more inside. Cameras cover the main entrance and the side windows, but there's a blind spot near the rear. That's our best bet."
Hayes nodded, taking a deep breath. "We move fast and silent. In and out before anyone notices. We grab the files and get out of here."
They both stepped out of the car, the cold night air biting at their skin as they approached the fence. Staying low, they made their way to the blind spot in the rear, where the floodlights didn't reach. The sound of their footsteps was swallowed by the soft rustle of the wind through the trees, and soon they found themselves crouched behind the fence.
Wallace produced a pair of wire cutters from their bag and quickly set to work on the fence. Within moments, a section of the iron bars gave way, and they slipped through the gap, moving toward the back door. Hayes kept their gun drawn, their senses on high alert as they approached the building. Every second felt like it could bring disaster.
When they reached the back entrance, Wallace knelt by the door and began working on the lock, their fingers moving quickly and deftly. Hayes kept watch, their heart pounding in their chest. The minutes stretched on, each one feeling longer than the last, until finally, there was a soft click, and the door swung open.
"We're in," Wallace whispered, standing up and slipping inside.
The interior of the house was just as lavish as they had expected. Thick carpets muffled their footsteps as they crept through the hallway, past expensive paintings and ornate furniture. The air inside was cold and still, as if the house itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.
"According to Banning, the files are kept in a hidden safe in the study," Wallace whispered as they moved down the hall. "Second door on the right."
Hayes nodded, their eyes sweeping the shadows as they moved. The house was eerily silent, the only sound the soft hum of electricity from the overhead lights. It felt like walking into a trap, but they had no choice. This was their best chance to get something concrete on Reed.
They reached the study door and paused, listening for any sign of movement. When none came, Wallace slowly opened the door, and they slipped inside. The room was large, lined with dark wood bookshelves filled with old, leather-bound volumes. A massive oak desk sat in the center, and behind it, a large painting of a stormy sea hung on the wall.
"That's where the safe is," Wallace whispered, pointing to the painting. "Banning said it's hidden behind the art. Let's move."
Hayes nodded and crossed the room quickly, lifting the painting off its hooks to reveal a steel safe embedded in the wall. Wallace immediately went to work, pulling out their tools and beginning the process of cracking the code.
As Wallace worked, Hayes kept watch at the door, their ears straining for any sound of approaching footsteps. Every creak of the house seemed to echo louder in their mind, every shadow in the corner seemed to shift. Time was running out.
"Got it," Wallace whispered triumphantly as the safe clicked open. Inside, stacks of documents, USB drives, and several unmarked envelopes were neatly arranged.
"This is it," Wallace muttered, grabbing as much as they could and stuffing the items into their bag. "Let's go."
Just as they were about to close the safe, Hayes froze. A low sound—a faint click—caught their attention. It was barely audible, but in the silence of the house, it was unmistakable.
"What was that?" Wallace asked, looking up sharply.
Hayes didn't answer. Instead, they moved quickly to the door, peering out into the hallway. The soft glow of the floodlights outside cast long shadows on the walls, but there was no sign of movement. Yet the sense of being watched hung heavy in the air.
"We need to move now," Hayes whispered, urgency creeping into their voice. "We've got what we came for."
Wallace didn't argue. They quickly zipped up the bag and headed for the door. But as they stepped into the hallway, a sudden flash of light caught their attention. Hayes spun around, just in time to see a red dot appear on Wallace's chest.
"Get down!" Hayes shouted, lunging forward and shoving Wallace to the ground just as a shot rang out. The bullet slammed into the wall behind them, sending a shower of plaster raining down.
"We're compromised!" Wallace hissed, scrambling to their feet. "We need to go, now!"
Without another word, they bolted down the hallway, the sound of heavy footsteps closing in behind them. Whoever had fired the shot wasn't alone.
As they reached the back door, Hayes fired a few rounds behind them, forcing their pursuers to take cover. They burst outside into the night, their breath coming in short, panicked gasps as they sprinted toward the fence.
"Go! Go!" Wallace urged, slipping through the gap they had cut earlier.
Hayes followed, pausing only to fire a final shot toward the house before ducking through the fence. The sound of shouting and barking dogs filled the air as the guards scrambled to catch up. But Hayes and Wallace were already running, disappearing into the cover of the trees.
They ran for what felt like miles, the adrenaline pumping through their veins, pushing them forward. Only when they were sure they had lost their pursuers did they slow down, gasping for breath.
"We've got what we need," Hayes panted, holding up the bag. "Now it's time to bring Reed down."