SILICON AND SILK

Fatal encounter

The darkened alley was quieter than usual, the kind of silence that warned Lucas something was wrong. He paused at the entrance, his senses alert as he scanned the surroundings. The rendezvous point Elena had arranged was just ahead, a small, inconspicuous door tucked between two old brick buildings. Lucas could see the faded numbers above the frame, their edges chipped and rusted from years of neglect.

Victor emerged from the shadows behind him, his steps deliberately soft, eyes darting around the alley. He nodded at Lucas before gesturing toward the door.

- This is it. You ready for this? - Victor asked, his voice low.

Lucas took a deep breath, his hand brushing against the edge of his jacket, feeling the reassuring weight of the files beneath.

- We don't have a choice. We need to get this into her hands before they catch up with us - he said, his voice filled with resolve.

Amelia stepped out of the car, her eyes meeting Lucas's. She gave him a small nod, her expression one of determined calm.

- Let's do this - she said, her voice steady.

Elena led the way, her pace brisk as she approached the door. She knocked three times, pausing for a moment before knocking twice more. There was a long silence before the door creaked open, revealing a woman in her mid-thirties, her eyes sharp and calculating as she peered out at them.

- Elena. You made it - the woman said, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and caution.

Elena gave a tight smile, her gaze shifting to Lucas and the others before turning back to the woman.

- I told you I'd come. These are my friends, and they have what you've been looking for - Elena said, her voice firm.

The woman studied them for a moment before stepping aside, motioning for them to come in.

- Get inside. We can't afford to stay out here - she said, her voice urgent.

Lucas followed Elena inside, the others close behind. The room was small, cluttered with old furniture and stacks of papers, the air thick with the scent of coffee and stale cigarettes. The woman closed the door behind them, her eyes scanning the alley one last time before turning back to the group.

- I'm Mara. You must be Lucas, and... Amelia, right? - she said, her eyes locking onto each of them in turn.

Lucas nodded, his expression cautious.

- That's right. We have the proof you've been looking for. Financial records, transactions, names—everything - he said, his voice filled with urgency.

Mara raised an eyebrow, her gaze flickering to Elena.

- You actually found it. I didn't think it was possible. You realize what this means, right? If they find out we have this, we're all dead - she said, her voice blunt.

Victor stepped forward, his eyes narrowing.

- We know the risks. But this is our best shot at bringing them down. We can't let them keep doing what they're doing—hurting people, destroying lives. We need to end this - he said, his voice filled with conviction.

Mara studied Victor for a moment, her expression unreadable before she finally nodded.

- Alright. Let me see what you've got - she said, motioning to the files.

Lucas handed her the documents, his heart pounding in his chest as she took them. Mara moved to the small table in the center of the room, her fingers flipping through the pages, her eyes scanning the information with growing intensity.