Shadowbrook

Chapter 12: A Plan in Motion

"The docks hold the key to the conspiracy, but breaking in is only the beginning. The truth is within reach—if they can survive long enough to expose it."

The drive back from Thomas's house felt longer than it actually was. The night air hung heavy around us, and the fog rolling in from the cliffs seemed thicker, pressing against the windows as we made our way through the deserted streets of the town. Evan was silent beside me, his jaw clenched, his hands tight on the steering wheel. The weight of everything we'd learned hung between us like a suffocating presence.

Marcus Vale.

The name echoed in my mind, dark and ominous. He wasn't just any man—he was the one pulling the strings behind everything. The one who had ordered Sam's death. The one who was behind the danger that had followed us from the moment I stepped back into this town. And now, after years of searching for the truth, we were finally close.

But we were also on the edge of something far more dangerous than either of us had anticipated.

"We can't just walk into Vale's estate and confront him," I said finally, breaking the heavy silence. "Thomas was right. He's too powerful. He's protected."

Evan nodded, his expression grim. "I know. But we don't have a choice. If we don't stop him now, he'll keep coming after us. And he'll keep covering up what he's done."

I swallowed hard, my heart racing with fear and determination. Evan was right. We couldn't back down now. Not after everything we'd been through. But I couldn't ignore the reality of the situation. Marcus Vale wasn't just some local businessman. He was someone who could make people disappear. Someone with resources, connections, and the will to use them.

"We need a plan," I said, forcing myself to think clearly despite the rising panic. "If we're going to confront him, we need to know exactly what we're walking into. We can't just show up and hope for the best."

Evan's grip on the steering wheel tightened, his knuckles white. "You're right. But we can't wait too long. The longer we wait, the more time Vale has to find us."

I nodded, glancing out the window at the dark streets passing by. "We need to find a way in—something he won't expect. And we need proof. We can't just accuse him without anything to back it up."

"Proof," Evan muttered, shaking his head. "That's the problem. We don't have anything concrete. Just Thomas's word, and no one's going to believe him if he suddenly turns against Vale."

I felt a surge of frustration. It was true—we had no solid evidence, no documents or recordings that could expose Vale for what he had done. Everything was hidden behind layers of secrecy, buried in the shadows of this town. And yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that we were missing something. Something that could tip the balance in our favor.

"What about the docks?" I asked, the idea forming in my mind. "Thomas said Vale runs things from there, right? That's where the smuggling operations happen, where the money flows. Maybe there's something there—documents, records, something that ties Vale to everything."

Evan's eyes flicked toward me, and for the first time, I saw a glimmer of hope in them. "The docks... It's possible. That's where everything's funneled through. If we can get inside, we might be able to find something."

I nodded, my heart racing. "We have to try. If we can find proof that connects Vale to the smuggling, to the people who killed Sam, we'll have leverage. We can use it against him."

Evan's expression hardened. "But getting into the docks won't be easy. They're heavily guarded, especially at night. Vale has people watching everything."