Chapter 9: Escape Under Fire
The interior of the garage filled with the roar of the sedan’s engine as Elena slammed her foot down on the accelerator. The vehicle lurched backward, tires spinning slightly against the concrete floor before tearing out of the garage doors and crashing through the wooden privacy fence surrounding the backyard.
Wood splintered violently as the sedan broke free into the open alleyway behind the property. Through the rearview mirror, Elena caught a fleeting glimpse of two figures dressed in tactical black gear stepping out into the garage doorway, raising suppressed carbines toward the fleeing vehicle.
“Hold on!” Elena yelled, ducking her head slightly while keeping her eyes glued to the narrow alleyway ahead.
Bullets pinged off the rear trunk and shattered the back windshield, glass showering over the parcel shelf and raining down softly onto the backseat. Martha curled into a tight ball against the dashboard, weeping silently, her bruised face pressed against her knees. Elena didn’t panic; her mind operated with cold, calculated clarity. She swerved the sedan sharply to the left, weaving through the labyrinthine suburban alleys until she hit the main arterial road leading toward the highway.
The heavy traffic of the evening commute provided immediate cover. Elena merged seamlessly into the flow of civilian vehicles, switching off her headlights briefly before turning them back on to blend in with the surrounding traffic. She glanced over at her aunt, noting the pale, clammy skin and labored breathing.
“Are you hit, Aunt Martha?” Elena asked, keeping her eyes on the road while checking her mirrors for any sign of pursuit.
“No… I’m just terrified, Elena,” Martha whispered, her voice barely audible over the hum of the engine. “They’re going to kill us. They won’t stop until they get that ledger.”
“They won’t get the ledger, and they won’t touch you,” Elena replied firmly, her voice carrying an absolute resolve that provided a anchor of safety for the trembling older woman.
She picked up her encrypted phone, dialing Major Vance’s direct line once more. The connection was clear this time, thankfully devoid of static.
“Report, Captain,” Major Vance’s voice answered immediately.
“We’re mobile, Major. Our position was compromised by an Apex tactical unit seconds before we evacuated the residence. We took fire exiting the property, but we’re currently heading east on Route 9 toward Sector 4,” Elena reported efficiently.
“Negative on Sector 4, Elena,” Major Vance warned grimly. “We’ve received word that the base gate has been placed under temporary lockdown by federal auditors connected to Apex oversight committees. You cannot come here. You’ll be walking straight into a trap.”
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Elena’s grip on the steering wheel tightened until her knuckles turned white. The corruption ran deeper and higher than she had initially feared. If military installations were compromised, they had nowhere official to turn.
“Understood, Major. We’ll go off-grid. Meet us at the old Miller farm outside county limits. Send no one else—trust no one.”
