“Looks like we hit the jackpot.” Jack moved towards the desk.

  Reese examined the files, her flashlight illuminating the neatly stacked papers. “These are detailed records of Hennessey’s operations. Financial transactions, project plans, even some personnel files.”

  Jack clicked the mouse and the computer screen cast a pale glow in the dim basement. “This could have everything we need.” He opened folders and scanned documents. “Emails, financial records, schedules. This is a goldmine.”

  Reese’s flashlight beam landed on a series of photographs pinned to the wall. She moved closer, her breath catching in her throat. “Jack, look at this.”

  Jack joined her, his eyes widening as he saw photographs of Brenda. Some showed her in what looked like an interrogation room, while others were in various locations that matched the ones on the map.

  “She was here,” Reese said. “But where is she now? And these photos of her in the other places, was that surveillance? Or did they drag her there?”

  “Starting to think your friend was deeper in this than you might have known.”

  Reese nodded. “I’m coming to that same conclusion.”

  “What’s that say about Ben?”

  “He’s probably deeper in this than he let you know.”

  Jack’s eyes narrowed as he continued to scan the room. “Let’s see if we can find out.” He moved to the other desk, opened drawers and rifled through their contents. His hand brushed against something solid, and he pulled out a hidden drawer. Inside was a USB drive. He held up the drive. “We can analyze it later. Let’s keep searching.”

  As they were about to leave, Reese’s phone rang, the sound jarring in the silent basement. She looked at the screen—an unknown number. “I should answer this.”

  Her face went pale as she listened.

  “What? Are you sure?” Her voice trembled. She ended the call and looked at Jack, her eyes wide with shock. “Brenda’s been found.”

  Jack’s heart skipped a beat. “What? Where?”

  Reese swallowed hard. “They found her body in a well on a remote property.”

  The weight of the news hit them hard. Jack felt a mix of anger and grief swell within him. “We need to see the body. We need to know what happened.”

  Reese slammed into him, her arms wrapped around his shoulders. She pulled him in tight as she sobbed on his chest. After a moment, she pulled away.

  “Sorry,” she said.

  “Don’t be,” he said. “Come on, let’s go. We’ve found everything we could.” Before they could move, he noticed a thin wisp of smoke curling up from the far corner of the basement. “Reese, we need to get out of here. Now.”

  Reese turned to see the smoke spreading rapidly. “What’s going on?”

  “It’s a fire. They’re destroying the place. We need to move!”

  Part Two

  13

  The basement filled with smoke. The acrid scent filled their lungs as they grabbed the USB drive and important documents they had found. The situation was deteriorating rapidly.

  “We need to move, now!” Jack shouted.

  Reese nodded. They navigated through the thickening smoke. Jack led the way with his flashlight cutting through the haze. At the top of the stairs, he felt the door and knob. Both were warm, but not burning to the touch. He threw his shoulder into the door as he opened it. Smoke billowed in from the main floor. It was impossible to see anything even a foot away. He dropped to his knees and lowered his chest to the ground. The smoke was thinner here and he could make out the front door.

  He led Reese through the increasingly dangerous environment.

  Before they could reach the main door, it erupted into flames. Jack cursed under his breath, scanning for another exit. “This way!” he yelled, pointing to a window.

  Flames approached. They licked at the wall, closing in on the new escape point. Jack raced the fire and reached the window. The heat was intense. Sweat coated his entire body, stung his eyes. He rose into the thick cloud of dark smoke. His hands traced the glass, found the latch. It didn’t budge. He pulled his pistol out and broke the window, top to bottom. He slid the barrel around the edges, freeing as much of the razor sharp remains as possible. He set the folders he carried along the bottom to offer additional protection.

  Reese squeezed through the opening first, Jack following close behind. They landed in the backyard and scrambled to get away from the house. The cool night air was a stark contrast to the inferno raging behind them. The structure began to collapse, the sound of breaking wood and shattering glass filling the air.

  “Come on, we need to get farther away!” Jack pulled Reese up from the ground. They sprinted to a safer distance, their breaths ragged from the exertion and smoke inhalation.

  Once they reached a secure spot, they collapsed to the ground and turned to watch the house burn. The flames illuminated the night, casting eerie shadows across the trees. Jack could feel his heart pounding in his chest, adrenaline still coursing through his veins.

  Reese leaned against a tree, her eyes wide with shock and relief. She coughed hard. “That was too close.”

  Jack wiped sweat and soot from his forehead. “But we made it out. I lost the folders though.”

  Reese held up the USB drive, the small object now their lifeline in uncovering the truth. “We’ve got this. Let’s find Ben. We need to regroup and figure out our next move.”

  Jack nodded, his mind already shifting to their next steps.

  Jack and Reese sped through the backroads. Adrenaline still coursed through his veins. Once it wore off, the pain of their scrapes, cuts and burns would hit. The darkness around them felt oppressive, and every shadow seemed like a potential threat. They had to reach Ben quickly and regroup.

  Reese checked the rearview mirror for the hundredth time, her eyes darting between the road ahead and the side mirrors. “I don’t think we’re being followed, but we can’t be too careful.”

  Jack nodded, his grip on the steering wheel tight. “We’ll take a few more turns, just to be sure.”

  They drove in silence. Each turn brought them closer to the prearranged meeting point. Finally, they reached a secluded clearing deep in the woods. Ben’s car was already there, parked in the shadows.

  Jack parked the Jeep and killed the engine. They stepped out and scanned the area one last time before approaching Ben.

  Ben emerged from the darkness, his face covered with concern. “What the hell happened?”

  Jack and Reese updated him on the fire, the discovery of Brenda’s body, and the potential significance of the information they had retrieved.

  Ben’s eyes narrowed as he listened and processed the news. “Ah, Brenda. I held out hope she was alive, but I can’t say this is unexpected. I’ve known for a while that Hennessey is a terrible man.” He tipped his head back and stared up at the sky. “This fire, it wasn’t an accident. Someone knew we were close and they wanted to destroy any evidence.”

  Jack nodded. “That’s what we figured. They could’ve been tipped off by your informant. Or the guys shooting at us at the lodge.”

  Reese held up the USB drive. “We still have this. It might give us some answers.”

  Ben glanced at the small device, his expression grim. “We need to be careful. If they’re willing to kill Brenda and burn down a safehouse, they won’t stop at anything.”

  “We need to find a secure location to analyze this drive. Somewhere we won’t be interrupted.”

  Ben nodded. “I have a place in mind. It’s off the grid, secure, and has everything we need.”

  They piled into their vehicles and drove deeper into the woods. The tension in the air was palpable, each of them lost in their thoughts. The fire had been a close call, but they had to keep moving forward.

  As they reached Ben’s hideout, a small cabin hidden among the trees, they took a moment to catch their breath.

  Jack looked at Reese and Ben. “Let’s see what’s on this drive and figure out our next move.”

  They sat around a small table in the cabin. The USB drive lay in the center, the small object holding potentially crucial information. Ben booted up a laptop and plugged the drive in, a mix of anticipation and dread filling the room.

  “We’ll need a password,” Ben said as he navigated through the folders. He tried a few combinations based on what they knew about Hennessey and Brenda but had no success.

  “We should try to think like Hennessey or whoever set this up,” Reese said. “What kind of password would they use?”

  Ben nodded. “Hennessey is meticulous. It’s likely something personal yet complex.”

  Reese leaned in. Her fingernails tapped the table. “We could try significant dates, names, or phrases he might use.”

  Ben opened a browser tab and typed in log-in credentials to a law enforcement database. He looked up Brenda’s information on the site, then typed in her name and birthday, then a few more potential phrases related to Hennessey’s operations. The screen flashed red with each failed attempt.

  “Damn, it’s locked tight,” he muttered. “We’ll need more clues to crack this.”

  Reese thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers. “What about the coded messages we found at the lodge? There might be something in those notes.”

  They sifted through the documents they had taken from the burning house, focusing on any cryptic notes or unusual patterns. Ben cross-referenced those with the USB, but nothing worked.

  “Could we have overlooked something?” Jack said. “There must be a way to figure this out.”

  Reese held up a finger. “Wait, Brenda mentioned a personal connection with Hennessey. Something about his daughter. What if it’s related to her?”

  Ben found a record for Hennessey’s daughter and typed in her name followed by her birthdate. The screen flashed green, and they were in.

  “Got it!” Ben said.

  They sifted through the files. The contents of the USB drive were extensive, including financial records, emails, and detailed plans. It was clear Hennessey’s operations were more complex and far-reaching than they had anticipated. And the money was coming in from a number of sources, several criminal.

  “This is huge.” Reese’s voice was filled with awe and dread. “We need to go through all of this, but first, we gotta see Brenda’s body and confirm what we’ve been told.”

  “Agreed,” Jack said. “Let’s gather what we need and get to the property.”

  They packed their gear, ensuring they had everything necessary for both an investigation and any potential confrontation. Weapons, first aid supplies, and communication devices were double-checked and loaded into their vehicles.

  The drive to the property where Brenda’s body had been discovered was tense. The silence between them was heavy with the weight of their discoveries. Jack’s thoughts raced as he considered what they might find and how they would proceed from there.

  “We need to be ready for anything,” Reese said, breaking the silence. “If Hennessey’s people are there, I don’t think they’re just gonna welcome us.”

  Jack nodded, his eyes focused on the road ahead. “We’ll stay sharp. The moment we see anything suspicious, we pull back and reassess. We can’t afford to take unnecessary risks.”

  As they neared the property, the landscape became more remote and foreboding. Tall trees lined the narrow road, their branches casting long shadows in the moonlight. Jack slowed the car as he studied the surroundings for any signs of movement.

  “There it is.” Reese pointed to a dilapidated farmhouse in the distance. “That’s where they found her.”

  Jack parked the car a safe distance away, and they continued on foot. The air was thick with anticipation, every sound magnified in the stillness. They approached the property cautiously, their senses on high alert.

  “Let’s go,” Jack said.

  14

  They approached the perimeter of the scene, taking in the grim reality of the situation. The well was at the center of the activity, its edges illuminated by bright floodlights. Jack, Reese, and Ben watched as officers pulled Brenda’s body from the well. Reese turned toward Jack and wrapped her arms around him. He pulled her in, feeling her sorrow as she shook.

  The expressions on the faces of the emergency personnel were solemn. This wasn’t an everyday occurrence in the small town, and not something they were used to dealing with.

  As they neared the perimeter, a police officer stepped forward to intercept them. “Stop there. This is an active crime scene. Who are you?”

  Ben stepped into the light and showed his identification. “We’re here to help. We have information that could be crucial to this case.”

  The officer scrutinized their IDs, then radioed his superior. Moments later, a detective approached them.

  “Ben. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

  Ben held out his hand. “Harris, good to see you. This is Jack, and you know Tanya.”

  Jack met the detective’s gaze. “We’ve been investigating Brenda’s disappearance. We have reason to believe there’s more to this than meets the eye.”

  Harris nodded, weighing his options. “All right, but tread carefully. We’re all on edge here. What have you got?”

  They moved closer to the well, careful not to disturb the ongoing work. They observed the scene, noting the haphazard way the officers handled Brenda’s body.

  Reese scanned the surroundings, taking in every detail. “Something doesn’t feel right about this.”

  Ben’s expression was grim. “We need to look at the well and the surrounding area. There might be clues they’ve missed.”

  With Detective Harris’s reluctant permission, they approached the well. Jack peered inside, noting the depth and the condition of the walls. “This wasn’t a random dump site. Someone wanted her to be found eventually.”

  Reese nodded. “We need to figure out who and why.”

  Detective Harris kept a watchful eye on them, his skepticism lingering despite his willingness to allow them access to the scene. Perhaps he knew he was outmatched by the case.

  The scene was bathed in an eerie glow from the floodlights. Long shadows danced on the ground. The officers laid Brenda’s body on a stretcher, their movements respectful and precise.

  “Let’s take a closer look,” Jack said.

  Reese closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She exhaled and nodded her readiness. They approached the body. Jack crouched down and examined Brenda’s face and hands. His trained eye picked up on subtle details others might miss.

  “There are bruises on her wrists.” Jack felt anger welling up at the thought of what Brenda’s final minutes must’ve been like. “She was restrained.”

  Reese’s gaze moved to Brenda’s clothing. “Look at her shoes. There’s dirt on them, but it’s not from around here. It’s red. This ground is almost black. She was moved.”

  “Someone wanted her found, but only after they were done with her.”

  Reese’s jaw tightened. “She didn’t deserve this. We need to find out who did this and make them pay.”

  As they continued their examination, Jack noticed something else. “There’s blood under her nails. She fought back.”

  Ben joined them. “Any idea who?”

  Jack shook his head. “No clues that point to that. But we’re going to find out.”

  Detective Harris stepped closer, his curiosity piqued despite himself. “Find anything useful?”

  Jack stood up, faced Harris. “She was restrained, moved post-mortem, and she fought back at some point. This wasn’t just a murder. It was a message.”

  Harris’s eyes narrowed as he dragged a hand across his stubble. “A message to who?”

  “To anyone who gets too close to the truth.”

  Reese looked around the scene. “We need to talk to everyone who knew Brenda, everyone she worked with. Someone has to know something.”

  Jack nodded. “And we need to dig deeper into Hennessey’s operations.”

  “All right.” Harris paused a beat as he stared down at the corpse. “I’ll get you access to what we have so far. But be careful. We don’t know who we’re dealing with.”

  “Why are you so willing to help?” Reese asked.

  Harris attempted a smile, but it didn’t have any effect. “Well, first off, I’ve known Ben my whole life, know the kind of man he is and what kind of experience he has. Two, I don’t want the State Police to take over. It’s only a matter of time until they do.”

  “What aren’t you telling us?” Jack asked.

  Detective Harris gestured for them to follow him to a more private area away from the other officers. “I need to know everything you’ve found out so far.”

  Jack glanced at Reese and Ben before starting. “We’ve been looking into Hennessey’s operations. Brenda was onto something big. We found documents and a USB drive at a safe house. It looks like Hennessey has been involved in a lot of illegal activities, using his business as a front. I’d guess Brenda discovered enough to put her in serious danger.”

  Harris took out a notebook and jotted down notes. “Anything specific that ties Hennessey directly to her murder?”

  Reese shook her head. “Not yet. But we believe the same people who set the fire at the safehouse are behind this, and they are tied to Hennessey. It’s too much of a coincidence.”

  Harris paused, flipping through his notes. “We’ve been looking into Brenda’s ex-boyfriend, Mark Cundiff. He’s been a person of interest for a while. History of violence, past threats against Brenda. Do you know anything about him?”

  Jack and Reese exchanged a glance. He didn’t want to reveal too much to Harris. Reese had a connection with Brenda and was familiar with Cundiff.

  “Heard about him,” Jack said. “But we haven’t had the chance to dig deep. If he’s involved, he might have connections to Hennessey. Or perhaps he was played, used by Hennessey.”