Chapter 10
Eleanor stared at Leo, her mind racing as the pieces of the impossible puzzle violently slammed together. A flash drive. Not random violence, not a coincidence on Grand Avenue, but a targeted, ruthless pursuit involving a child on the streets and a truck bearing down on a crosswalk in broad daylight.
“What are you talking about, Leo?” Eleanor demanded in a sharp, urgent whisper, her hands resting heavily on his shoulders.
Leo reached into the inner pocket of his tattered, oversized jacket, pulling out a small, black USB drive caked in dried mud and pocket lint. He held it out like a live grenade, his fingers trembling ever so slightly as the heavy thud against the front door downstairs sounded again—louder this time, accompanied by the splintering crack of wood around the doorframe.
“My dad worked at the municipal water facility downtown,” Leo said quickly, the words tumbling out in a breathless rush. “He found out the corporation handling the city filtration system was dumping toxic industrial waste into the residential supply to save money on disposal fees. When he tried to take the evidence to the press, they… they arranged an ‘accident’ for him last month.”
Julian gasped, his hand flying to cover his mouth. “An accident?”
“A brake failure,” Leo whispered, tears finally pooling in his eyes, though he refused to let them fall. “Just like they tried to do to you today, Julian. I took his briefcase from his locker before they could wipe it. This drive has every financial record, every email, every name. They’ve been hunting me through the subway tunnels and alleyways for three weeks because they know I have it.”
Eleanor felt the room tilt. The elite circles she moved in—the charity galas, the upscale restaurants like Le Petit Chêne, the polite society of North Hills—were built on a foundation of money and influence, but beneath that polished surface ran an abyss of corporate corruption and casual murder.
Downstairs, the sound of breaking glass echoed through the foyer. Someone had shattered the small sidelight window next to the front door, and a gloved hand reached through to turn the deadbolt from the inside.
Click.
The heavy front door swung open, letting in the cold night wind.
“Go!” Eleanor hissed, grabbing both boys by the arms and pushing them toward the rear of the second-floor hallway, away from the stairs. “Get into the attic access hatch in the master bedroom. Now!”
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“Mom, we can’t leave you—” Julian started, digging his heels into the carpet.
“Do as I say!” Eleanor shouted, her maternal fury overriding every ounce of fear in her body. She unbuttoned her beige suit jacket, letting it drop to the floor so she could move without restriction in her white blouse. “Hide the drive, Leo. Keep my son safe. I’ll buy you time.”
