Chapter 10
The Springfield commuter rail station was quiet and nearly deserted at 5:45 AM, save for a lone commuter reading a newspaper on a wooden bench and the soft humming of the fluorescent lights overhead. Sarah locked her bicycle to the iron rack near the entrance, adjusting the straps of her canvas backpack as she walked toward the designated parking lot area.
A minute later, the older sedan pulled smoothly into an empty space near the exit lane. David turned off the ignition and stepped out quickly, meeting Sarah near the base of the concrete stairs. His face showed signs of exhaustion, but his eyes were sharp and alert.
“Did anyone follow you?” David asked quietly, scanning the surrounding streets as the morning light began to paint the eastern horizon in shades of soft pink and orange.
“No, the park trail was completely empty,” Sarah replied, her breathing slightly elevated from the ride. “The watcher was still parked down the street from our house when you left. They have no idea I’m even here.”
“Good,” David said, pulling the car keys from his pocket. “Let’s get on the highway before the morning rush hour begins. We can make it to the federal building downtown by 7:30 AM right as the day shift opens.”
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They climbed back into the car, merging seamlessly with the sparse early morning traffic heading toward the city center. The drive was mostly silent, both of them lost in their own thoughts about what lay ahead. They knew that walking into a federal building with allegations against a powerful executive like Marcus Sterling would open a Pandora’s box of legal proceedings, media attention, and corporate retaliation. But there was no turning back now. The truth was out of the ground, and it demanded to be heard.
As the towering glass-and-steel skyscrapers of downtown Springfield came into view against the brightening sky, Sarah reached over and placed her hand gently over David’s on the center console. He squeezed her fingers reassuringly, a silent promise that whatever happened next, they would face it together as a team.
