“She is safe, Eli,” I said, though I knew we still had to find her in the confusion.

“We are going to find her right now.”

The black SUV roared forward, its tires finally catching traction on the wet pavement.

It smashed through the wooden security barrier at the edge of the pier.

Splinters of pine flew through the air as the heavy vehicle surged toward the main road.

But two more police cruisers were already skidding around the corner, their sirens screaming.

They blocked the exit, their headlights blinding the SUV’s driver.

The SUV swerved to avoid them, its side scraping against the brick wall of the warehouse.

A shower of orange sparks lit up the dark snowy alley.

The vehicle came to a halt, its radiator hissing steam into the freezing air.

The driver’s door opened, and a man fell out into the slush, his hands raised.

But the passenger door remained closed.

I watched the silhouette inside the car, my heart hammering against my ribs.

Kane was still in there.

He knew his money could not buy him out of this.