Moments later, a sharp-eyed woman in a dark coat entered and joined us.
“This better be real,” she said.
Arthur nodded toward me. “She has the evidence.”
Mara examined the flash drive but didn’t connect it. “We need isolation and federal backup.”
Before I could respond, Arthur stiffened. “Man in a gray suit. Counter. Watching us.”
Mara stood instantly. “We leave. Now.”
We exited through the side door.
Halfway down the block, Arthur slowed, pressing a hand to his side.
“You’re hurt,” I said.
“I’ve been hurt for years,” he muttered. “Keep moving.”
A black SUV screeched around the corner.
Men stepped out.
Mara shouted, “Run!”
We sprinted through alleyways, footsteps pounding behind us. Sirens wailed somewhere in the distance. Arthur stumbled, and we held him upright.
A police cruiser appeared ahead.
Mara whispered, “Don’t stop. Walk.”
We crossed calmly. The cruiser passed.
They didn’t.
Safe — for now.
Mara led us into a secured office building and locked the door behind us. Arthur collapsed into a chair, pale and sweating.
Mara connected the flash drive to an offline laptop. Her eyes widened.
“This could dismantle entire corporations.”
Arthur’s breathing grew shallow.