The black sedan pulled out slowly from the curb, keeping a distance of three car lengths behind us.

“We have company,” I said.

Eleanor turned to look out the rear window.

“Is it him?” she asked.

“It’s one of his people,” I said.

I shifted into drive and pressed the accelerator.

The headlights behind us followed, matching our speed as we headed toward the highway.

The road ahead was dark, stretching out into the empty hills.

I gripped the steering wheel, my eyes scanning the rearview mirror as the city lights began to fade behind us.

The screen of my phone on the dashboard suddenly lit up with a text message from an unknown number.

I glanced down at the glowing screen.

The text was from an unsaved number.

“He knows you have the files. Do not go home.”

I deleted the message and kept my eyes on the road.

“Who was that?” Eleanor asked.

“An ally,” I said. “We are skipping the safe house.”

I checked the rearview mirror again.

The black sedan remained three car lengths behind us, its high beams reflecting off my wet windshield.