Chapter 7 - The Escape and The Destination
The back alleys of Manhattan were a labyrinth, and Miller knew them well. They scrambled into Miller's unmarked, beat-up sedan parked illegally by the dumpsters. Tires screeched as Miller threw the car into reverse, narrowly avoiding a garbage truck, before tearing out into the chaotic city traffic. In the backseat, Sarah was holding Leo tight. The boy was trembling, tears streaming down his face. "Are those the bad men my dad was hiding from?" Leo sobbed. "Yes, buddy," Sarah whispered, kissing the top of his head. "But we're going to keep you safe. I promise."
Miller was weaving aggressively through traffic, his eyes darting to the rearview mirror. "They have my plates. We can't go to the precinct. We can't trust anyone on the force right now. Vance has eyes everywhere." He glanced back at Sarah. "Where do those coordinates point to?" Sarah pulled the crumpled paper from her pocket, her hands shaking as she typed the numbers into her phone's GPS. "It's... it's a coastal area in Connecticut. Long Island Sound. An old marina."
"The boathouse," Miller confirmed, gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. "Arthur Penhaligon isn't running from the law. He's hiding from Vance's hitmen. He left the bag of cash with his kid because he knew a bank would lock down and call the cops, keeping the boy safe in a secure location. The drawing is a map to where he is hiding the real evidence." The pieces were falling into place. Arthur was a desperate father trying to expose a monster while keeping his only child out of the crossfire. But his plan had fractured. Now, a rogue detective, a brave bank teller, and a terrified boy were the only ones who could finish what he started. They merged onto the highway, speeding north, leaving the sirens of the city behind them, heading straight into the storm.
