Drifting in a sea of thoughts, she absently pulled up her banking app, half-expecting the international wire to be crawling through red tape. But the moment the screen lit up, her breath caught—the transfer had alreadynded. Ten million. Just a string of digits, yet they felt like a heartbeat in her palm—pulsing, alive, whispering a promise of survival.

    Back at the police station, Reece leaned over the desk, anxiety etched deep into his features. “Have you located Carrie yet?” he asked, voice tight.

    The officer gave a weary shake of the head, exhaling sharply. “No. We didn’t have enough time. They’re on the move—vehicle keeps changing routes, always one step ahead.”

    Across the room, another officer, eyes glued to a digital map of the city, pointed. “We caught a flicker of her signal near the coast.”

    “The coast?” a third officer murmured, rubbing the back of his neck. “Isn’t that where that creepy old amusement park is? The one that shut down after kids kept sneaking in and getting hurt?”

    Meanwhile, somewhere else in the city, inside a speeding car, Jacob was working the phones, trying to piece together any trace of Carrie.

    He made a call. A gang leader picked up—and spoke first, voiceced with nervous apology. “Mr. Dury, I just found out one of my newer guys lent a hand to your daughter a few days ago. He didn’t realize who she was. If anything went wrong, I take full responsibility. I’ll have him return the extra cash today. Feel free to discipline him however you see fit.”

    Alethea had yed her cards close to the chest, never revealing her true identity. The thug had thought she was just another rich girl acting out, so he’d charged her a sky-high fee without blinking.

    But this morning, he saw her face when he watched the news—and everything clicked. Panic set in. He ran straight to his boss to confess. Momentster, Jacob’s call came in. The gang leader assumed the powerful Hinks family wasing down on them like a hammer.

    Jacob, however, wasn’t interested in punishment. Not yet. He chuckled softly, brushing aside the man’s panic. “Rx. I’m not looking to make enemies. Your guy actually did alright. We’ve got another job, low-profile. Not enough hands on deck. I’d rather keep things quiet, so I’m hoping he’s avable. Payment’s flexible.”

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    The boss, visibly relieved, jumped at the offer. “It’s an honor, Mr. Dury. Forget the money. Thatst job more than covered his sry for the year. He’s yours to use however you like—even keep him at the Hinks estate if needed.” He knew full well that one word from the Hinks family could end his guy’s career—or his life. A favor, though? That was gold. Sacrificing one pawn was a small price to pay.

    “You’re in luck. Mr. Dury took notice of you,” the boss said as he passed the phone to the subordinate, whose face had turned the color of ash.

    The man swallowed hard, then took the phone. “Mr. Dury, I—I’m grateful. Just say the word.”

    Jacob didn’t waste time. “Did you every eyes on the woman?”

    The thug didn’t hesitate. “No. Miss Hinks only had me mess with the hospital’s security feed and hire someone to pose as a guard—to throw her maid off the scent. But don’t worry, I know Carrie by face. She’s practically a celebrity. Can’t miss her—she’s always on TV.”

    A subtle shadow crossed Jacob’s features, though his voice stayed cool. “Good. You’re quick on the uptake. Make your way to the old amusement park by the shore. Once you get there, someone will reach out.”

    Gratitude flowed from the underling, his words dripping with ttery. “I appreciate your confidence, Mr. Dury. I won’t disappoint.” With that, he returned the phone to the gang leader.

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