Chapter 7 - The Unlikely Alliance
Daniel felt all the air leave his lungs.
Lily was completely alone with the very people trying to kill him.
He shoved Nora into the hidden stairwell and followed close behind.
Marcus slammed the trapdoor shut just as the study doors burst open.
Gunfire erupted above them as Daniel and Nora sprinted down the dark tunnel.
"Where does this tunnel lead?" Daniel asked, his heart pounding in his throat.
"It comes out in the woods behind the property," Nora answered.
They ran for what felt like miles through the damp, cold earth.
Daniel pulled out his phone, but there was absolutely no signal underground.
He imagined Lily sitting in that hotel room, trusting the men guarding her door.
They finally reached a rusted iron ladder leading to the surface.
Daniel kicked the heavy grate open and climbed out into the pouring rain.
Nora pulled a set of keys from her pocket and pointed to a dirt road.
An old, unmarked pickup truck was hidden beneath a camouflage tarp.
"Get in, I have a secure satellite phone inside," Nora instructed.
Daniel jumped into the passenger seat and grabbed the bulky phone.
He dialed the hotel front desk and demanded to be connected to his room.
The phone rang five times before someone finally picked up.
"Daddy?" Lily's small, trembling voice came through the speaker.
"Lily, I am coming to get you right now," Daniel promised, tears in his eyes.
"Daddy, the security men said we have to go on a trip," she whimpered.
Before Daniel could reply, a deep, raspy voice took over the line.
"Your business partner fought bravely, but he is dead," the man sneered.
"If you ever want to see your daughter alive again, you will follow my instructions."
Daniel gripped the phone so hard his knuckles turned white.
"If you hurt one hair on her head, I will burn your world down," Daniel threatened.
The man on the phone just laughed a cold, cruel laugh.
"Bring Sarah's encrypted hard drive to the old shipyard in one hour."
"Wait, what hard drive?" Daniel asked desperately, but the line went dead.
Daniel turned to Nora with absolute panic in his eyes.
"I don't have any hard drive," Daniel choked out.
Nora started the truck's engine and slammed her foot on the gas.
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"I know exactly where it is," Nora said grimly.
"It is buried inside Sarah's coffin."
