The alley smelled like wet concrete and restaurant grease.
Mia hit the side door at a full run and the August heat wrapped around her like a fist. She didn't slow down. Her duffel bag bounced against her hip, the flash drive was in her pocket, and somewhere above her in that stairwell two officers were knocking on Sarah's door right now and calling her name.
The gray car was exactly where Nathan said it would be—end of the alley, hazard lights blinking orange in the shadow. A man she didn't know stood beside the rear door, holding it open without a word, the way people do when time is the priority and explanations come later.
She got in. The door closed. The car moved.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
"Somewhere safe." The driver didn't look back. "Mr. Hayes said to tell you there's a
