The sun was barely rising when Tyler's car pulled up in front of my building. I had barely slept, my mind too wired from the conversation at the Sable Club and the new information I had about Lila Reynolds. If she was really out there, hiding from Gabriel Thorne, then time was against us. If I could find her first, this whole story could blow wide open. But if Archer West or anyone from Thorne's camp found her before we did, she wouldn't stand a chance—and neither would I.
Tyler leaned out of the car window, his face drawn with concern. "You look like you've been up all night," he said, though I could hear the humor beneath his words.
I climbed into the passenger seat, tossing my bag in the back. "I pretty much have. I've been going over everything the man at the Sable Club told me. Lila Reynolds is the key, Tyler. If we can find her…"
He nodded, already in work mode. Tyler was the kind of guy who thrived on the adrenaline of a good story. We had worked together before, chasing down corrupt politicians and corporate cover-ups, but this was different. This was bigger.
"I looked into a few things after you called," he said, pulling the car into gear. "It's not much, but there's a trail. She disappeared right after the fallout with Thorne, but there were some offshore transactions made under an alias that could be her. It's thin, but it's something."
My heart pounded as I processed the information. "Where does the trail lead?"
"Upstate New York," Tyler said, glancing over at me. "She's been keeping a low profile, off the grid. If the financial records are anything to go by, she's been moving around a lot, but the last transaction was made near a small town by the mountains."
I stared out the window as the city began to fade behind us, replaced by stretches of trees and winding roads. The weight of what we were doing settled over me like a dark cloud. Lila Reynolds had vanished for a reason—if she was still alive, she was running from something far bigger than just a scandal. And now, we were about to walk straight into that danger.
"We need to find her before anyone else does," I said, my voice tense. "If Archer gets to her first…"
Tyler grimaced. "I know. We'll have to be careful. Thorne doesn't play around, and neither does Archer. He'll stop at nothing to keep his secrets buried."
***
The drive took hours, the city giving way to the quiet, rolling hills of upstate New York. It felt surreal, knowing that somewhere out here, Lila was hiding—likely watching her back every second, terrified that Thorne's people would find her.
By the time we reached the small town, the sun was hanging low in the sky, casting long shadows over the narrow streets. It was the kind of place people went to disappear. No crowds, no cameras, just isolation.
Tyler pulled the car to a stop near an old gas station, the kind that looked like it hadn't been updated since the 1970s. He cut the engine, glancing over at me. "If she's here, she won't be easy to find. We should start by asking around, but carefully. If anyone suspects we're looking for her, word could get back to Thorne."
I nodded, my mind already racing with plans. "You check the gas station. I'll ask around at the diner across the street."
We split up, each of us going our separate ways, but my nerves were on high alert. Every person I passed could be someone keeping tabs on strangers like us, someone who might be connected to Thorne.
I pushed open the door to the diner, the smell of greasy food and coffee filling the air. The place was nearly empty, save for an older man sitting at the counter and a waitress who looked like she'd seen better days. I walked up to the counter, trying to act as casual as possible.
"Coffee, please," I said, sliding onto one of the stools.
The waitress poured a cup and set it down in front of me, her eyes tired but kind. "Passing through?"
"Yeah," I said, stirring the coffee with a spoon. "Just traveling for work."
She nodded, not particularly interested in whatever story I had to tell. "Not much to see around here. Most people who come through are just passing by."
I sipped my coffee, trying to figure out the best way to approach the subject. I couldn't just ask about Lila outright—that would raise suspicion. I needed to be more careful.
"I'm actually looking for someone," I said carefully, setting my cup down. "An old friend of mine. I heard she might be in town, but I'm not sure where to start."
The waitress raised an eyebrow, her expression curious now. "Who's your friend?"
"Her name's Lila," I said, keeping my tone light. "She's been off the grid for a while. I'm just hoping to catch up."
The waitress's eyes flickered with something—recognition, maybe?—but she quickly covered it up. "Can't say I know anyone by that name."
I tried to keep my disappointment from showing. "Well, if you do hear anything, let me know. I'd really appreciate it."
She nodded but didn't offer any more information. I paid for the coffee and stepped back outside, glancing across the street to see Tyler exiting the gas station. He shook his head as he approached.
"Nothing," he said. "The guy in there didn't know anything, or at least, he wasn't saying."
I sighed, frustrated. "She's here. I know it."
"We just need to dig a little deeper," Tyler said, his voice calm. "She can't have vanished completely."
***
We spent the next few hours checking around town, asking questions without drawing too much attention to ourselves. It was slow going, and with every minute that passed, I could feel the pressure building. If we didn't find her soon, someone else would.
Finally, just as I was starting to lose hope, an old woman at a general store mentioned something that made my heart skip a beat.
"Lila, you say?" she asked, squinting at me. "There's a woman who lives up near the old logging cabins, keeps to herself mostly. Folks around here don't bother her much."
I exchanged a look with Tyler. This was it. We had found her.
"Can you show us where?" I asked, trying to keep the urgency out of my voice.
The woman gave us directions, and within minutes, we were back in the car, speeding toward the mountains where the logging cabins were hidden. My heart raced as we drove, the road winding deeper into the woods.
"This is it," I said quietly, the cabin coming into view. "She's here."
Tyler nodded, pulling the car to a stop. We got out, approaching the cabin cautiously. The air was thick with tension, the weight of the moment pressing down on me. This was the woman who could take down Gabriel Thorne, and she was just beyond that door.
I knocked softly, my heart pounding in my chest.
The door creaked open, and there she was—Lila Reynolds, her face gaunt and pale, her eyes wide with fear.
"You shouldn't have come here," she whispered, her voice trembling. "You have no idea what you've just done."