Chapter 8: Flight from the Industrial District
Panic flared in Elena’s chest. She grabbed her bag from the desk, scooping up the portable hard drive and stuffing it securely into her pocket. "How did they find us so fast?"
"Your phone, Elena," Marcus said bluntly as he hurried toward the exit. "Even with the battery out, sophisticated stingray devices can pick up the unique hardware signature if it was active within the last hour. We need to ditch these vehicles and get into the subway tunnels."
Elena didn't hesitate. She scooped Leo into her arms, wrapping the gray blanket tightly around him as he blinked sleepily against the sudden movement. "Hold on tight, buddy," she whispered into his ear.
They rushed out through the side door just as a sleek black SUV turned the corner of the warehouse lane, its high beams cutting through the gray morning haze. Marcus sprinted toward his sedan, throwing open the passenger door for Elena and Leo.
"Get in, get in!" Marcus yelled, sliding behind the wheel and slamming his own door shut.
He threw the car into reverse, tires spinning on the loose gravel before he slammed on the gas, fishtailing around the corner of the building as the corporate SUV accelerated toward them. The heavy metal bumper of the SUV scraped loudly against the side of Marcus's car, showering the pavement with sparks.
"Hold on!" Marcus roared, navigating the narrow alleyways of the industrial park with reckless speed.
Elena braced herself against the dashboard, one arm wrapped firmly around Leo to shield him from the violent motion. The black SUV pursued them relentlessly, its engine roaring like a caged beast. But Marcus knew these streets better than any corporate goon; he darted down a cramped loading lane between two derelict factories where the SUV was too wide to follow.
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By the time they emerged onto a main thoroughfare near the subway entrance, the pursuit vehicle was nowhere in sight. Marcus parked the sedan illegally beside a fire hydrant, killing the engine with a shaky exhale.
"That was too close," Marcus panted, gripping the steering wheel. "The federal inspector's office is downtown, near City Hall. We take the subway line three stops north, then walk two blocks."
