Chapter 6: The Dealing Shadows
The air crackled with tension as Laura and Markson were lost in wary glances with the figure that is preventing them from escaping.
The obvious thing about their situation became big; time was not to their favour here, and McAllister's gang threat added urgency to their every breath.
"Alright," Laura finally said, her voice steady despite her hand was shaking. "We'll help you get the documents, but know this—we're not just doing this for you. We want you to spare us.We want McAllister to pay for all the damage he had caused."
The image continued to draw closer, revealing a flash of white teeth in the dim light. "I wouldn't want it any other way. But let's hurry, shall we?"
Huh! Things seems to be going smoothly, but doubtful though.
As the three of them moved toward the entrance door, strength surged through Laura.
She had never thought of herself being engaged in a high-stakes and risk confrontation for survival as such they were into, it felt like the plot of a thriller where she was the heroine.
"Let's act fast as possible " The figure said quietly as they entered the narrow hallway.
"McAllister's men are already aware about the police presence, They'll be on high alert henceforth."
"Then we'll have to ensure we're also smart not to be the bad person when caught ," Markson suggested. "What's your name?"
"Let's just say I'm someone who has information and can assist you both to come out of this menace" the figure replied cryptically. "Well, for now, you can call me Gricks"
"Gricks?" Laura asked, her gut twisting at the name. "Sounds good though."
"Yah," Gricks replied, a hint of mischief in their tone. "But that's a conversation for another time. Right now, let's go to find that evidence."
They moved slowly and later quickly, hearts beating as they navigated the darkened corridors of the abandoned apartment.
Laura could hear her breath echoing in her ears, and the weight of their decision felt heavier with each step, but they had no choice.
"Where exactly can you say you keep the documents?" Gricks asked, glancing over their arms as they approached a window that led to what used to be a maintenance room.
"In my backpack," Laura responded, fumbling with the zipper, then pulling out the precious stack of papers that seemed to vibrate with the gravity of their implications. "These could ruin him."
Gricks quickly scanned the documents, as they fastened their eye on him as he could do anything funny
. "This is only part of what we need. We need the disk you have on your laptop—the one with McAllister's entire operation laid out." Gricks requested.
Laura's heart sank. "But... I didn't bring it with me! It's at home."
Gricks stated, a note of urgency creeping into their voice. "But we can't go back the way we came. We need a new exit strategy, aside that, we'll have to get back to your house for the disk"
At that time, they began to hear some footsteps behind them.
The footsteps behind them grew louder as time goes on. Laura could almost hear the pounding of her heart in her ears. "What now?" she whispered, realizing how critical their situation had become.
Gricks didn't hesitate. "We'll cut through the back to the alley. It'll be crowded, but it's the safest way out."
Gricks actually led the way down the narrow hallways until they reached the back exit.
The moment they stepped into the open air, the cacophony of the street greeted them—a mix of distant sirens, honking horns, and muffled voices. But there was no time to linger.
"Stick close," Gricks instructed, their tone sharp and commanding. "Blend in with the crowd."
Markson grasped Laura's hand, and they fell in step behind Gricks, moving along the bustling sidewalk. For the first time all night, Laura felt a flicker of hope. If they could get back to their house and access the laptop, they might just manage to expose McAllister once and for all.
As they turned a corner, a sudden chill crept through the air, and Laura sensed that something had shift behind them.
She looked back. A group of men in dark suits were emerging from an alleyway, their eyes scanning the crowd with focus.
"McAllister's gang," Laura said urgently. "They're looking for us!"
"Run!" Gricks shouted, taking the lead as they ran through the crowd, their hearts pounding like drums.
They ducked into a busy diner, the bell above the door chiming as they stumbled inside.
"Through the back!" Gricks pointed toward a door at the rear of the diner.
They piled through, slipping into a narrow passage beyond the kitchen. The smell of grease and spices hung thick in the air, and Laura felt a momentary pang of hunger beneath the fear..
"Keep moving!" Markson urged, his hand still firmly grasping Laura's.
They found themselves back outside in a narrow alley, the streetlights flickering above. "We need to find a place to regroup," Gricks said, scanning their surroundings. "We can't go home looking like this."
"Let's go to my friend Alex's place," Laura suggested, recalling the old college buddy who had helped with tech back in the day. "He could help us figure out the best way to deal with McAllister."
But, do you think that's the best idea here? Well let's continue.
Gricks nodded, and they took off down the street, adrenaline propelling them forward. But as they reached the end, Laura felt a chill in her bones—a sensation that they were being followed.
"What is it?" Markson asked, sensing her tension.
"I don't know," Laura replied, glancing back over her shoulder. "But I have a bad feeling. We need to hurry."
As they turned into an industrial area, the shadows grew thicker and darker. The alleyway was lined with brick buildings.
They reached Alex's apartment, a nondescript building that looked like it had been forgotten by time.
Gricks knocked sharply, and after what felt like an eternity, Alex opened the door, his brow furrowed in confusion.
"Laura? What'going on?" he said, his eyes flicking to the strangers at her side.
"Let us in, Alex—this is urgent!" Laura urged, pushing past him into the dimly lit apartment. She quickly explained the mess they were in, omitting only the most sensitive details for the sake of caution.
"I have some files on McAllister's operations that I need to access before we can make our next move," Laura concluded, her eyes pleading. "But we have to be careful—he's got eyes everywhere."
"Why don't we use this this chance to set a trap?" Gricks suggested. "I know some things about his organization that could help us escape them."
Laura's heart raced in fear regarding the thought, but she nodded, feeling a flicker of determination pierce through her fear. "Yes! We can turn the tables."
Hmmm! Could that be courage?
Probably...
Markson squeezed her hand. "Whatever it takes, we can't let ourselves be victims anymore."
As they gathered around the computer and brainstormed a plan, the shadows of their past began to merge, and from look of things, they were no longer just seeking survival; they were on the verge of brilliant exposure of McAllister's illegal business activities.
No longer were they enamored with their previous life—now, they were players in a high-stakes game of deception and risk, and they were ready to face whatever came next.
"The thrill of the chase has just begun. Let's finish this,"
Markson said, his voice steady.
But, do you think they would outrun McAllister?
To be continued...