Chapter 15 - The Deadline Moves
By evening, Sasha had reached a state investigator named Grace Novak and an attorney who specialized in patient rights. They watched the original footage, examined the records, and took sworn statements from Iris and Wren.
Grace didn't promise miracles.
"We have probable grounds to investigate," she said. "But we need a medical team and an order broad enough to protect the people inside."
"People," Wren repeated. "Thank you."
They were preparing the request when Maya's phone lit up.
A message from Ada, sent through a service account: CONVOY CHANGED. DEPARTURE 02:00. BACKUP AIR AT RISK.
"That's two hours earlier," I said.
Grace was already calling her supervisor. "We're moving now."
Outside, a reporter had appeared beside the courthouse steps. He shouted questions about the three "missing sisters" and the so-called theft at Veridian.
Rusk's version had reached the public first.
Sasha guided us through a side exit. "You do not need to convince a camera that you're real. You need to stay alive long enough to testify."
An ambulance waited to take Wren for an examination of the irritated tracking port. She refused to get in.
"They can find us with it," she said. "Let me be the thing they follow."
"Absolutely not," Iris answered.
Wren smiled without humor. "You two had childhoods. I had corridors and locks. I know every shortcut under that building."
Grace stepped between us. "Nobody's being sent in alone. We move with medical personnel and officers."
Then Marcus walked out of the shadows beside the courthouse loading dock. His face was bruised, his hands raw where plastic restraints had cut them.
He held a small metal box against his chest.
"Rusk's transport authorization," he said. "And the original security recording from the night Miriam died."
Before anyone could reach him, a car rolled slowly past the loading dock.
May you like
Its passenger window lowered.
Marcus looked straight at the person inside and whispered, "Get down."
