ON THE RUN

Chapter 4: Fractured Alliances

The church basement was a sad place. It smelled like stone and candles. Ethan Carter was walking back and forth between the chairs. His arm was hurt,. He could still use it. He had just gotten off the phone with Nathan Cole. The call had been pretty intense. Cole was scared for his family. He was also feeling guilty about something.

Olivia Brooks was sitting at a table. She was looking at some papers under a light. Ryan Foster was flipping through some pictures. He was still shaking a bit. Mason Walker was working on his computers. The only sound in the room was him typing away.

"We need to get to the library at noon " Ethan said finally. He stopped walking. Looked at the others. "Cole is sending us some stuff. We have to be careful. We think the library might be watched."

Olivia looked up. She did not look happy. "We have to try. We need proof that Lawson was involved in the assassination. With Fosters pictures and the papers we have we might be able to do it."

Mason nodded. He did not look up from his screens. "I have a plan. We can get out of there if things go bad. We have some drones set up. We can meet again at the rail yards if we need to."

Foster cleared his throat. "These people are not nice. I saw what they did to the witnesses. They will not leave us alone."

Ethan put his hand on Fosters shoulder. "You are not alone anymore. We are all in this together.. If you want to leave now is the time."

Foster shook his head. "I am staying. I want to help."

They left the basement one by one. They tried to blend with the people on the street. The library was an old building. It was made of marble and glass. Ethan went in first. He was wearing a maintenance uniform. Olivia went in next. She was carrying a bag. Mason stayed outside in the van. He was watching the cameras. Foster stayed at the house. He was too easy to recognize.

The library was pretty quiet. There were some students studying. Some old people were reading the newspaper. The security guards were walking around. Ethan made his way to the floor. He was looking for a book. It was an atlas. Inside the book he found an envelope. It had a USB drive and a note from Cole. The note said that Lawson had ordered the assassination. It also said that Reeds company was involved.

Ethan put the envelope in his jacket. As he turned to leave he saw a face. It was Jack Donovan. He was a detective. He looked older now. His hair was gray.. His eyes were still sharp.

"Ethan " Donovan said quietly. "I heard you were causing some trouble. I did not expect to see you."

Ethan tensed up. He put his hand on his gun. "Are you here to arrest me? Or warn me?"

Donovan sighed. He looked around. ".. I have been asking some questions. I do not think you did what they said you did. Lucas was acting strange after that night. He had a lot of money. He was avoiding his friends."

They moved to a quieter spot. Donovan kept his voice low. "Sullivan is in trouble. Kanes people are getting nervous.. Lawson is the one in charge. He is the one who is making all the deals."

Ethan listened. He was taking it all in. "Will you help us?"

Donovan hesitated. Then he nodded. "I can help. I have some friends in the evidence room.. If they find out I am in trouble."

Ethan smiled. "Welcome to the club. Meet us at the rail yards tonight. Bring anything you can about Lucas."

They said goodbye. Ethan left the library. He felt like he was being watched. Outside he signaled Olivia. They walked to the van. Mason was waiting for them.

They drove away.. Then some SUVs showed up. They were chasing them. Ethan and Olivia ran to the van. Mason was driving. They sped away. The SUVs were following them. They were shooting at them.

Ethan returned fire. He hit one of the men. Olivia jumped into the van. Ethan followed her. Mason was driving fast. They were weaving in and out of traffic.

They went through a construction zone. The SUVs were still following them. Ethan shot at their tires. One of them blew out. The SUV crashed into a lamppost.

The other SUV kept going. They were shooting at the van. Mason got hit in the shoulder.. He kept driving.

"We need to get to the rail yards " Ethan said. "We can lose them there."

They drove into the rail yards. It was a maze of containers. Mason knew the way. He drove through the containers. The SUVs were following them.. They were getting lost.

They got out of the van. They started running. They were weaving in and out of the containers. Logan Pierce showed up. He was a bounty hunter. He was mad.

"You are not going to get " Pierce said. "You are good.. You are not good enough."

Ethan stepped out. He was using a container for cover. "Do you know who is paying you? Lawson? Cross? They are trying to take over the country."

Pierce did not care. "I have a job to do."

They started shooting at each other. Ethan and Olivia were fighting back. Mason was helping them. They were trying to get

The police were coming. They were closing in. "We need to get out of here " Mason said. "We need to find a way out."

They ran. They were jumping between containers. They were climbing ladders. They were trying to get to a level.

They saw a train. It was moving. They ran to it. Pierce was trying to stop them. They fought him. Ethan hit him in the jaw. Pierce was stunned.

Olivia and Mason were shooting at the others. They were trying to help Ethan. Ethan hit Pierce in the head. Pierce fell down.

They got on the train. It was moving fast. They were catching their breath. Mason was patching up his shoulder. Olivia was looking at the USB drive.

"This is big " she said. "We have proof. Lawson ordered the assassination. Reeds company was involved."

Ethan was looking out the window. They were leaving the city. "We need to be careful. We need to get this out to the people. If we do it wrong they will kill us."

The train was slowing down. They were getting close to the outskirts of the city. They jumped off the train. They started walking. They were going to meet Jack Donovan.

Donovan was waiting for them. He was, in a car. He looked nervous.

Donovan said "You made it" as they all piled in. He brought what he could. Lucass records and a statement from a guard who saw Lucas plant evidence on the night of the murder.

Ethan took the files from Donovan. "Thank you. This could clear my name."

Donovan held the wheel tightly. "There is more. Sophia Bennett, the lawyer has been asked to represent some of Kanes people. She might switch sides if we offer her protection.. Judge Charlotte Morgan. She is the one who signed the fake warrant for your arrest."

They drove to another house. This one was a storage unit that Mason had set up with his technology. As night fell the group looked over everything. The picture was clear. Director Michael Lawson was not just involved. He was the one in charge using his position to cover up the conspiracy while Victor Kane did the work and Adrian Cross made it look legitimate.

Things were starting to fall apart. Emily sent another message. She had been moved to a safe place by some people in the medical examiners office who were on her side but there were a lot of people watching her.

Then something new happened when Mason intercepted some communications. The people in the conspiracy were getting rid of anyone who might talk. One of Reeds contractors had been found dead. They said it was a suicide. One of Kanes helpers had disappeared.

Olivia said "They are getting scared. Our plan is working."

Ethan stood up he had made a decision. "We need to talk to Lucas. He is the link now. We need to get him to turn on Lawson."

The plan was not safe. Lucas Hayes lived in an apartment in Westridge with a lot of security and cameras. There might even be police officers around.. With Donovans access codes and Masons hacking skills they might be able to get in.

They went in at 3 a.m. Ethan went in alone through the service door dressed as a maintenance worker. The building was quiet. He got to Lucass floor. Picked the lock.

Lucas was drinking whiskey in the living room with a gun on the table. He looked up surprised but not shocked.

"Ethan. I knew you would come eventually."

Ethan said "You betrayed me. You framed me. Why? Was it for money or power?"

Lucas laughed in a way. "I did it to survive. They had something on me from the start. Some photos of things I did on the job. Then they made me an offer. Blackwood was going to ruin everything. You were too clean. The person to blame."

Ethan said "Tell me everything. What is Lawsons plan? What are the names? Help me end this."

Lucas looked at the door. "It is too late. They are already here."

The door burst open. Some enforcers came in. Ethan shot two of them. More kept coming. He fought his way to the balcony using Lucas as a shield. There were gunshots and broken glass.

Olivia and Mason were waiting in a stolen car. Ethan climbed down using a fire hose, with Lucas. They drove away as the alarms went off.

In the car Lucas talked. "Lawson wants to make it look like the system is falling apart. He wants to kill some politicians and put his people in charge. Then he will use Reeds mercenaries to keep control. Kane will get to run the underworld and Cross will get the contracts. I was a small part of it."

They took Lucas to the storage unit. His testimony was very important. With Fosters photos Coles files, Donovans evidence and Lucass confession they had what they needed.

The people in the conspiracy fought back. A news report came on Masons computer. Emily Carters apartment had been attacked and she was missing.

Ethan was very angry. "They took my sister."

Olivia put her hand on his arm. "We will get her back.. We will end this."

The group got ready. Mason found a signal from Emilys phone to a warehouse owned by Reeds company. The final fight was coming.

As they got ready Ethan looked out at the city. He had become the hunter. He had found some allies. He knew who had betrayed him. The truth was coming out.

In Blackridge the truth always came with violence.

They went out into the night ready to fight. The final battle was near. An attack on the heart of the conspiracy. Ethan Carter would. Clear his name or die trying and he would take the corrupt system down with him.

The streets were dangerous. Every shadow had an enemy, in it. Every ally could turn against him.. For the first time Ethan felt like he had a chance.

He realized that justice is not just given to you. You have to take it.

He was ready to take it.