Kill the Truth

Chapter 2: Blood Trail

Come out with your hands empty. I will shoot you right there.

Damian kept his gun pointed at the space between two old shipping containers. The docks were quiet except for the sound of the water hitting the concrete.

Put down your gun, a computerized voice said from the darkness. If I wanted you dead Commissioner Vance's people would be cleaning up your blood from your apartment floor now.

A person stepped into the light of a streetlamp. They wore a coat and a mask that covered their face.

You are Cipher Damian said, his finger on the trigger. Why did you call me?

Because you figured out the part of the drive Cipher said, taking a step forward. You saw the list of people to be killed. You saw your father's name. I know you want to hurt them, Damian.. You cannot do it alone.

How do you know about my father? Damian asked, feeling angry and hurt. The police said it was an accident twenty years ago. The files were hidden. Who are you?

Stop thinking like a victim who wants revenge Cipher said sharply. Start thinking like someone who can accomplish things. Commissioner Vance just ordered his people to shoot you on sight. He is scared. You took his money. He is sending his killers. We have three minutes before they get here. Get in the car.

Cipher pointed to a black car waiting in the shadows.

Damian did not move. I ran away for three years. I am done running. Let them come. I want Commissioner Vance to look me in the eye.

Then you will die on this dock Cipher said, opening the car door. The people in charge will get the drive back. Your father's death will still be a secret. Your choice.

Damian thought about his father. Decided to put his pride aside. He walked around to the side of the car and got in.

Cipher drove the car through the docks turning sharply between the containers. Open your computer. Connect to my network. I need your help now.

Damian got out his computer. What are we looking for?

Commissioner Vance is losing money Cipher explained, turning the car. The killers after us get paid in cash. If Commissioner Vance cannot pay them by midnight they will stop working. Find his accounts. Take all his money. Make him broke by the time we leave the city.

Damian started working on the computer. He found Commissioner Vance's money and took it.

You got him Damian said. Two million dollars.

Take it Cipher ordered.

Damian moved the money to an account.

Commissioner Vance has no money now Damian said.

A big crash sounded behind them.

Two black cars smashed through the gate of the docks. Their bright lights shone on the car.

Imaging, Cipher cursed, driving faster. Hold on.

The cars behind them started shooting. Damian ducked as the back window broke.

I need a gun Damian yelled.

Glovebox Cipher shouted, turning the car sharply.

Damian retrieved a machine gun from the glove box. He loaded it. Aimed at the cars behind them. He shot at the engine of the car. The car crashed into a container.

One down Damian yelled.

The second car kept coming.

Ram the gate Damian ordered. Do not slow down.

The car smashed through the gate and onto the street. Cipher drove fast turning sharply to avoid cars. The second car followed them.

I am listening to the police radio Cipher said quickly. Commissioner Vance ordered a blockade of the city. He is framing us for the damage at the docks.

I am going to turn off the lights Cipher said, pressing a button on the computer.

All the street lights and traffic lights in the area went out. The car behind them stopped, blinded by the darkness. Cipher turned off the car's lights. Drove through the back streets. After two minutes they could not hear the police sirens anymore. They had escaped.

Cipher parked the car in a garage under an old shopping mall. They turned off the engine. It was very quiet.

Damian kept his gun ready. You drove well there he said, trying to talk to Cipher. Why are you risking your life for me?

Cipher took off her mask and voice changer.

Damian was surprised. She was young, pale and tired with a scar on her jaw.

Because the people in charge hurt my family too she said, her voice rough. My name is Elara. My mother was the one who originally stole the drive. They killed her for it. I have been watching you for three years, Damian. You are the one who can connect the money to the list of people to be killed. We need each other.

Damian put down his gun. The conspiracy was an old problem and he had just become a part of it.

We need to hurt Commissioner Vance before he can regroup Damian said, thinking about what to do. He is scared and weak. We take his records and make them public. We ruin his reputation.

We need a way to tell people Elara said. The big news companies will not report it.

We use a rebel Damian said. Sophia Bennett. She is a journalist who writes about corruption. She is brave. Will not stop. If we give her proof she will publish it before her bosses can stop her.

Elara used her computer. I have her address. She lives in the arts district. Let's go.

Twenty minutes later Elara parked the car near Sophia's apartment.

I will listen to the police radio Elara said, giving Damian an earpiece. You have ten minutes.

Damian broke into Sophia's apartment. Found her pointing a gun at him.

Do not move Sophia said, her hand

The lights turned on. Sophia looked tired but not scared.

Damian Cross Sophia said, her gun still pointed at him. The news says you killed a courier and now the whole city is looking for you. Give me one reason why I should not shoot you.

Because you know Commissioner Vance is corrupt Damian said calmly. I read your articles. You have been trying to expose the people in charge for years. You need proof.

I do not know what you are talking about Sophia warned. Put your hands where I can see them.

Damian slowly put his computer on the table. Look at this. This is Commissioner Vance's bank account. He has twelve million dollars in bribes. If you scroll down you will see the payments he made to frame me for the courier's murder.

Sophia looked at the computer screen. This could be fake.

Check the numbers with your records Damian said. They match the city's treasury. He is stealing from the city to pay for killers. Publish it now.

Sophia lowered her gun a little. If I publish this Commissioner Vance will be finished.. He will send people to kill me.

He is already sending them, Elara's voice said urgently in Damian's earpiece. Damian three cars just arrived. They are the killers.. They are not here for you.

What are you saying? Damian asked aloud.

I just decoded the folder Elara said, her voice shaking. The file you gave Sophia... Commissioner Vance is a distraction. The kill order was issued yesterday. The target is Sophia Bennett. They are here to kill her.

Damian jumped forward. Get down! he yelled, pushing Sophia to the floor.

The front door exploded.

Three men in clothes stepped into the apartment shooting silently. Damian rolled Sophia behind a table as bullets hit the walls.

Who are they? Sophia screamed, scared.

The people you write about Damian yelled, drawing his gun.. They decided you are too dangerous to live.

Damian shot at the men to make them hide. Fire escape! Move! he ordered Sophia.

He kept shooting to cover Sophia as she ran out the balcony door. Damian followed her bullets hitting the doorframe. They ran down the stairs.

Over here! Elara yelled from the alley as the car doors opened.

Damian and Sophia got into the car. Drive! Damian yelled.

Elara drove the car out of the alley as the men shot at them from the balcony. Bullets hit the car. Elara drove fast turning sharply through traffic until the shooting stopped.

Sophia was breathing fast in the seat looking at the bullet holes, in the car. You were not lying. They exist.

And now you are in this situation Damian said with a face.

Elara did not look away from the rearview mirror. Damian we have a bigger issue here. I read the rest of the messages that were sent back and forth. Vance did not try to hurt you tonight. He did not tell anyone to attack the courier.

Damian stopped moving. His men had told him what happened. Vance had given the order.

No Elara shook her head. Someone used Vance's codes to make it look like he did it. Someone who wanted you to take all of Vance's money so the Directorate could say they had a reason to get rid of him.

Who told them to do this? Damian asked, feeling like someone he trusted had betrayed him.

The order came from the computer of a retired detective who used to solve cybercrimes Elara said quietly. The computer belongs to Marcus Hale.

Marcus. The man who taught him everything. The man he thought of as a mentor.

Damian stared out the window without seeing anything. Everything had just changed in a way and the bad guy had been right next, to him the whole time.