Chapter 12 - A Dangerous Encounter at the Edge of the City
Mark reached the outskirts of Burlington, Vermont, just as the sun began to rise over the misty green mountains.
The old police cruiser was running low on fuel, its gas indicator flashing amber on the dashboard.
He pulled into a quiet rural gas station tucked behind a row of tall pine trees.
Lily was asleep again, worn out by the long night of travel and fear.
Mark kept his eyes on the rear-view mirror as he filled the tank with cash he had pulled from his wallet.
Suddenly, a dark silver sedan pulled up to the pump directly opposite his car.
The driver’s side window rolled down slowly, revealing a middle-aged man with a sharp jawline and a dark trench coat.
“You’re a hard man to catch, Mark,” the man said, his voice deep and smooth.
Mark instantly reached inside his jacket for Reynolds’ service weapon, keeping his body positioned between the man and Lily.
“Who sent you?” Mark demanded, his finger resting lightly on the trigger. “Arthur or Victoria?”
The man chuckled softly, shaking his head as he stepped out of his vehicle with his hands held out in the air.
“Neither,” the stranger said calmly. “My name is David, and I work for Sarah Vance.”
Mark froze, his heart skipping a beat as the name echoed through the crisp morning air.
“Sarah is alive?” Mark asked, his voice shaking with disbelief.
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“She’s been waiting for you to find that notebook for three long years, Mark,” David revealed softly. “Now follow me before your father’s men track this car’s GPS.”
***
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