Reese had just finished dinner with Matthew and Annie when Roman called.


    "Ms. Meyer, we found Alex. He''s at an old brickyard outside the city. He''s safe for now. I''m heading over with my team. The local police are on their way too."


    "Alright, I''ming."


    She hung up and nced at Matthew, who was holding a sleepy Annie. "Can you send me the location? I need to get over there."


    "Where are you going?" Matthew asked, worry creasing his brow.


    "They found Alex. I want to make sure he''s okay."


    "I''ming with you."


    Reese looked at Annie, who was nearly asleep in his arms, and shook her head. "No, you should take Annie home."


    Matthew didn''t argue. He handed Annie to the nanny and told the driver to take them back. His eyes said he wasn''t about to let Reese go alone. She could see how worried he was, so she didn''t push back. She just reached for the car door, ready to go.


    "I''ll drive," Matthew said quietly.


    Reese knew she was too anxious to argue. She nodded. "Okay."


    They got in the car and sped through the city. Streetlights streaked past, the world outside rushing by in a blur. Reese stared out the window, her mind racing, her jaw tight.


    Matthew kept ncing at her, trying to sound calm. "Don''t worry. We''ll get there in time."


    Reese forced a small smile. “Yeah. I hope so."


    About half an hourter, they pulled up a few hundred meters from the brickyard. Roman wasn''t there yet but a police car sat nearby, engine off, hidden in the shadows. The whofe area was dark Trees on either side, their branches shifting in the night breeze.


    med


    Reese didn''t wait. She stepped out of the car, eyes narrowed, scanning the outline of the crumbling brickyard. Matthew started to tell her to stay put but the SUV was too bright, too obvious. He decided it was safer to stick together


    "Stay close. Whatever happens, don''t leave my sight."


    "Okay." The darkness pressed in around them, making Reese''s skin prickle. She


    nodded, crouched low, and followed Matthew along the old brick wall, moving


    quietly toward the brickyard.


    The ce looked even creepier up


    close. Broken walls and empty


    windows stared out from the


    darkness. The air felt heavy, almost haunted. As they crept forward


    muffled sounds drifted towards:


    the-grunts, angry voices the thud of bodies struggling.


    Reese''s heart jumped. She nced at Matthew.


    His eyes went cold and sharp. He pulled her down behind a broken b of concrete. "Stay here. Don''t move."


    "But..." Reese''s voice trembled. She wanted to wait for Roman. Maybe it was safer to let the police handle it. But the look Matthew gave her said there was no time.


    He understood her hesitation, but if something happened to Alex, they might lose the evidence against Grace. Who knew what would happen then.


    "We can''t wait for Roman." Matthew tried to sound calm, offering a quick smile. "I''ll check things out. I''ll be quick."


    He took a few steps, then turned back. He dug a pen from his pocket and handed


    it to her. “There''s a de hidden in the end. Use it if you need to."


    He twisted the cap to show her. Reese nodded, gripping the pen tight. Matthew hesitated, almost reached out to touch her hair, then stopped himself and slipped away into the shadows.


    He moved fast, silent and focused, disappearing into the night like he belonged there.