Chapter 5 - ALLIES IN THE SHADOWS
Marcus tore the radio off his vest and smashed it beneath his boot.
"They've turned the whole city against us," Marcus muttered, his face grim.
"We need a place to hide," Leo whispered, holding his bruised ribs.
Marcus knew only one person outside the police system he could trust.
He led Leo down the emergency fire escape into the dark alleys below.
They navigated through the filthy backstreets until they reached an old, run-down clock tower.
Marcus knocked five times on the heavy wooden door.
A small slit opened, revealing a pair of sharp, cautious eyes.
"Marcus?" a raspy female voice asked.
"Sarah, open up. We’re in deep trouble," Marcus pleaded.
The door unlocked with a heavy click, and they slipped inside.
Sarah was a former investigative journalist who had been ruined by Mayor Vance years ago.
She stared at the bleeding boy and the sleeping baby in shock.
"What on earth have you brought to my doorstep?" Sarah gasped.
"The truth behind the Vance empire," Marcus said, laying the baby down on a soft couch.
"This child is the missing heir."
Sarah quickly grabbed a medical kit and began treating Leo’s cuts.
"If Vance finds out they are here, he will burn this whole block down," Sarah warned.
"He already tried to kill them twice tonight," Marcus said, pacing the room.
Leo looked up at Sarah with hollow eyes.
"My mother left a key before she died," Leo said suddenly.
He pulled a small, silver key attached to a string from around his neck.
"She told me this key opens the truth about Vance’s real identity," Leo added.
Sarah gasped as she recognized the symbol engraved on the key.
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"That’s the key to the vault under the old iron foundry," Sarah whispered in horror.
"That's where Vance keeps his dark money... and his hitlist."
