Chapter 7 - The Unlikely Ally
"Give me one good reason not to pull this trigger," a gruff, trembling voice demanded.
I raised my hands slowly, shielding Chloe with my body.
"My son is trying to kill us, and Sheriff Miller is helping him," I pleaded blindly into the light.
The flashlight lowered, revealing an old, bearded man covered in dirt and wearing ragged clothing.
"Miller is a crooked snake who stole my land," the old hermit grunted, lowering his weapon.
He helped us out of the tunnel and led us to a rusted pickup truck hidden under a camouflage tarp.
He told us his name was Arthur and that he had been surviving off the grid for a decade.
Arthur offered to drive us straight into downtown Chicago, far away from the sheriff's corrupt jurisdiction.
As we rode in the heated truck cabin, Chloe began to convulse violently in my arms.
Her eyes rolled back, and a terrifying seizure took hold of her fragile body.
I unbuttoned her dress to cool her down and saw the small metal key I had taken from her casket.
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It was not just a key to unlock restraints.
The metal casing had cracked open during our escape, revealing a microscopic USB drive hidden inside.
