Chapter 8 - The Cargo Hold
I waited until the armed guards walked past before pulling Leo out from behind the rusted container.
We sprinted across the slick concrete toward the massive cargo ship idling at the end of the pier.
"Leo, I need you to hide behind these wooden pallets and do not make a sound until I come back," I whispered firmly.
He nodded bravely, wiping the rain from his face as he crawled into the dark shadows.
I quietly climbed the metal boarding ramp, keeping the heavy shipping ledger tucked tightly under my arm.
The deck of the ship was chaotic with crew members loading the final containers for departure.
I slipped past a group of sailors and descended a narrow metal staircase into the belly of the ship.
The lower cargo hold smelled intensely of engine oil and damp iron.
In the center of the dimly lit room, a woman was tied tightly to a steel chair.
It was Sarah.
Her face was badly bruised, her clothes were torn from the crash, but she was definitely breathing.
I rushed forward and desperately began untying the thick ropes binding her wrists.
"Claire?" she croaked, her eyes widening in absolute disbelief.
"I got the flash drive, Sarah, and Leo is safely hidden outside," I assured her as the ropes fell away.
She threw her arms around my neck, sobbing with profound relief.
"I am so sorry I ruined your life twelve years ago, Claire," she cried into my shoulder.
"We can talk about the past later, right now we just need to survive," I replied, pulling her to her feet.
We took one step toward the metal staircase when the entire cargo hold was suddenly flooded with blinding halogen lights.
I raised my arm to shield my eyes from the painful glare.
Footsteps echoed on the metal grating above us, slow and dripping with arrogant confidence.
David Vance walked down the stairs, flanked by five heavily armed mercenaries.
May you like
He smiled, adjusting his expensive tailored suit as if he were attending a cocktail party.
"It is so nice to finally have a college reunion, ladies," David sneered, pointing a silver pistol directly at my head.
