Chapter 6
The narrow alcove offered a fragile shield against the bustling city traffic just a few yards away.
The waitress leaned against the brick wall, trying to steady her breathing while staring at the small black flash drive in the sous-chef's hand.
His name was Leo, a quiet young man who usually kept to himself in the restaurant's kitchen, rarely speaking unless necessary.
Yet here he was, risking his entire career and personal safety to hand her the exact digital proof she needed.
"Why are you doing this, Leo?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly as she adjusted the collar of her white shirt. "You could lose everything."
"I already lost everything once," Leo replied softly, his dark eyes reflecting the neon signs of the street. "Victoria Vance destroyed my family's restaurant five years ago using the exact same playbook. Fake health violations, forced debt, and corporate buyout."
The waitress felt a wave of profound sympathy wash over her, replacing her initial fear with a steely, unified resolve.
She realized they were no longer just fighting a corrupt billionaire; they were part of a growing line of victims seeking justice.
"If we take this flash drive to the police, will they actually arrest her?" the waitress asked, looking intently at the tiny device.
"Not yet," Leo warned, shaking his head slowly. "Victoria has local politicians and inspectors on her payroll. If we go to the standard precinct, the evidence will vanish just like the security footage."
"Then what do we do?" she pressed, crossing her arms against the evening chill.
"We need to bypass local corruption entirely," Leo said, leaning in closer. "We take this directly to the federal investigative journalist who exposed the downtown zoning scandal last year. My sister knows how to reach him safely."
Suddenly, the harsh beam of a high-intensity flashlight cut through the darkness of the alleyway, sweeping directly across their hiding spot.
A heavy pair of footsteps echoed sharply against the pavement, stopping just ten feet away from the bookstore alcove.
"I know you're in here," a gruff voice called out, belonging unmistakably to the bulky security guard. "You can't hide forever."
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Leo cursed under his breath, grabbing the waitress's wrist and pulling her deeper into the shadows toward a rusty fire escape ladder.
"Climb," Leo ordered, hoisting the metal ladder down just as the beam of light illuminated their faces.
