Thorns for Clover

*Chapter 13:Room 8*

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The drive to the motel took 9 minutes. It felt like 9 hours.

Rain hammered Nolan’s car. Neither of them spoke.

Every red light, Clover checked her phone.

`29:14... 28:59... 28:40...`

The countdown from the text.

"They have my sister," she finally said.

"I know." Nolan’s knuckles were white on the wheel. "We’re going to get her back. But first we get the USB."

"Why didn’t you tell me about Mateo’s call sooner?"

"Because if you were working with them, you would’ve led them to it." He glanced at her. "I’m sorry."

Clover didn’t answer.

The motel was dead. Neon sign flickering. Room 8 door hanging crooked on one hinge.

Police tape was torn down. Inside smelled like mildew and gunpowder.

Nolan shut the door behind them. Pulled his gun.

"Stay behind me."

Room 8 was worse than she remembered. Mattress shredded. TV smashed. Drawers dumped.

But the air vent above the bathroom was still intact.

Nolan dragged the chair over. Stood on it.

"Hand me your hairpin."

Clover gave it to him. He worked the vent screws.

Pop.

He reached in. His arm disappeared to the shoulder.

Then he pulled out two things.

A black USB drive.

And a folded photo.

Clover took the photo with shaking hands.

It was her, age 12. With Mateo. At the lake.

On the back, Mateo’s handwriting:

`If you’re reading this, I’m gone. The USB has everything. Names. Bank records. The badge. Don’t trust the Bureau. Don’t trust me. Trust yourself. -M`

"The badge?" Clover whispered.

Nolan was already plugging the USB into his phone with an adapter.

Files popped up. Spreadsheets. Emails. A video.

He clicked the video.

Mateo’s face filled the screen. Bruised. Bloody.

"Clover, if you see this, I’m dead." His voice shook. "It was an inside job. FBI Agent D. Mercer ordered the hit. He’s working with—"

The door to Room 8 kicked in.

Three men. Masks. Guns.

"Hands up! USB. Now."

Nolan shoved Clover behind him and fired.

Glass shattered.

"Run!" he yelled.

Clover ran.

Out the bathroom window. Again.

Behind her, gunshots. Nolan yelling her name.

Her phone buzzed.

`Unknown: 15 minutes. New location. Or Maya dies.`

And across the parking lot, headlights.

Eli’s Honda.

He threw the passenger door open.

"Get in!"

Clover looked back at Room 8.

Nolan was still inside. Surrounded.

15 minutes.

Maya.

The USB in Nolan’s hand.

She made her choice.

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*End Chapter 13*