Chapter 30: Unseen Threats

The car sped down the empty highway, its headlights cutting through the darkness. Marriam sat in the passenger seat, her hands gripping the flash drive tightly. Ellen was in the back, her gaze fixed out the window as Jay drove, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. They hadn't spoken much since leaving the motel, the weight of their situation pressing heavily on them.

"We can't keep running," Marriam finally said, breaking the silence.

Jay glanced at her. "You have a better plan?"

"We need to figure out how to use the information on this drive. But we're going to need help. Real help, not just someone who's looking to save their own skin like Zulu."

Ellen shifted in the backseat. "You think there's anyone left we can trust?"

Marriam sighed, her mind racing. "There has to be someone. Someone outside Richard's reach."

Jay turned the car off the highway and onto a smaller road, the lights of the city growing distant behind them. "And where do you propose we find this person?"

Marriam didn't answer immediately. Instead, she pulled out her phone and started scrolling through her contacts. Her fingers hovered over one name before she hesitated and looked at Jay.

"There's someone I know. Someone I met before all of this with Richard started. He's a journalist—one of the best investigative reporters in the country. If anyone can help us expose Richard's network, it's him."

Jay frowned, glancing at her sideways. "A journalist? That's risky. If he's too eager for a story, he could blow this wide open before we're ready."

"I know," Marriam said quietly. "But if we're careful, we can control the narrative. We need someone who can shine a light on Richard's operation without tipping him off too soon. This guy's smart—he knows how to handle sensitive information."

Ellen leaned forward from the backseat. "And what makes you think he's not already compromised? If Richard has people in the media, this journalist could be one of them."

Marriam bit her lip, the weight of Ellen's words sinking in. "I can't be sure. But we don't have many options left. We need to act now before Richard tightens his grip on us."

Jay didn't say anything for a moment, then finally sighed. "Alright. What's his name?"

"His name's Alex Coleman. He's been investigating corporate corruption and government scandals for years. If anyone's got the connections to take down someone like Richard, it's him."

Jay nodded, though he still looked uncertain. "Where do we find him?"

Marriam hesitated. "Last I heard, he's in the city. But I can try reaching out to him through some old channels. If he's still the same guy I knew, he'll respond."

Jay pulled over to the side of the road, turning off the engine. "Let's do this smartly. We need a secure place to meet, somewhere Richard's people won't think to look."

Ellen, still tense from the encounter at the motel, chimed in. "We can't meet in the city. That's too obvious. Maybe somewhere rural, away from the streets, like an abandoned warehouse or an old farm."

Marriam nodded. "I'll make contact and set something up. But we need to stay off the radar until we're sure it's safe."

The three of them sat in the car, the silence heavy with unspoken fears. They were in deeper than they'd ever imagined, but they weren't ready to back down. Not now. Not when they were so close to uncovering Richard's secrets.

Marriam sent a coded message to Alex, explaining just enough of the situation to catch his attention without revealing too much. They'd have to wait for his response—and hope that he was still the man she believed him to be.

Two days passed before Alex responded. His message was brief but clear:

"Meet me tomorrow, 10 p.m. Location: The old lighthouse by the coast. Come alone."

Marriam's stomach twisted at the thought of going alone, but she knew they had no choice. The lighthouse was secluded, an ideal spot to avoid prying eyes.

"I'm going," Marriam said, showing the message to Jay and Ellen.

Jay shook his head immediately. "No way. We're not letting you walk into another situation alone. This could be a trap."

"He's not Zulu," Marriam countered. "Alex is different. And if we're going to trust anyone, it has to be me who makes contact."

Ellen sighed. "We'll be nearby, though. Just like last time. If something feels wrong, we're pulling the plug."

Marriam agreed, knowing full well that walking into another tense meeting alone was a huge risk. But they needed allies—and Alex might be their last hope