But before they reached the bottom, Sarah stopped.
She turned toward Olivia.
"There's something I haven't told you."
"Now isn't the time."
"It has to be."
Sarah reached inside her jacket and removed a tiny flash drive.
"This contains the original recordings. Everything. The payments, the conversations, the orders."
Olivia took it.
"Why didn't you give this to us earlier?"
"Because there's a recording of Michael Grant explaining exactly what they planned to do to you."
A crash sounded from upstairs.
Walker shouted.
"Move! Now!"
Olivia pushed Sarah toward the basement door.
They descended into darkness.
And somewhere above them, the people responsible for Project Nightfall were finally beginning to realize that their greatest mistake had not been underestimating Olivia Bennett.
It had been allowing Sarah Miller to survive long enough to tell her the truth.
The basement was almost completely dark.
Olivia Bennett held Sarah Miller's hand as they descended the narrow concrete staircase. Behind them, the sound of boots pounding across the wooden floor grew louder.
Special Agent Thomas Walker was the last person down.
"Keep moving!" he ordered.
One of the federal agents pulled a small flashlight from his vest and illuminated the basement. The room was filled with old furniture, cardboard boxes, and several pieces of construction equipment.
Sarah rushed toward the far wall.
"There's a door behind those shelves."
Olivia helped her move a heavy wooden cabinet. Behind it was a narrow metal door leading into an underground passage.
Walker examined it.
"Where does this go?"
"An old drainage tunnel. It connects to the abandoned warehouse two streets away."
Walker looked at Olivia.
"Are you sure we can trust this?"
"We don't have another option," Olivia answered.
A loud crash came from upstairs.
Someone had broken through the front door.
"Federal agents!" Walker shouted. "Identify yourselves!"
A burst of gunfire followed.
Sarah screamed.
Olivia pulled her behind the concrete wall.
Walker immediately raised his weapon.
"Go! I'll cover you!"
Olivia hesitated.
"Thomas, you're coming with us."
"Olivia, move!"
The agents exchanged fire with the armed men entering the house. For several seconds, the basement was filled with shouting and the sharp echoes of gunshots.
Then one of the agents shouted that the rear entrance was clear.
Walker fired two final shots before retreating toward the metal door.
"Everyone inside!"
Olivia pushed Sarah through the opening.
Walker followed, closing the door behind him.
The tunnel was narrow and damp. Water dripped from the ceiling, and the air smelled of rust and wet concrete.
Sarah led them forward.
"Keep your lights low. There are cameras near the warehouse entrance."
Olivia looked at her.
"How do you know?"
"I used this tunnel before. Someone helped me disappear."
"Who?"
Sarah didn't answer.
They continued walking.
After several minutes, they reached a metal ladder leading upward.
Walker climbed first and carefully opened the hatch.
The warehouse appeared empty.
He signaled the others.
One by one, they climbed out.
Olivia looked at Sarah.
"Who helped you disappear?"
Sarah finally answered.
"Detective James Porter."
Olivia froze.
"Porter was dead."
"That's what everyone was told."
Walker turned sharply.
"What are you saying?"
Sarah looked toward the warehouse entrance.
"James Porter discovered that Harlan was selling evidence. He realized that the department had been compromised, so he arranged to disappear before they could kill him."
Olivia stared at her.
"Are you telling me Detective Porter is alive?"
Sarah nodded.
"Yes."
"Where is he?"
"I don't know exactly. But he has been moving between safe houses."
Olivia felt a strange mixture of relief and disbelief.
Porter had been one of the most important witnesses in her investigation. His death had nearly destroyed the case.
If he was alive, he could provide information that nobody else possessed.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
"Because I needed to be certain you weren't working with Grant."
Walker looked toward the street.
"We need to get out of here. That team won't stop searching."
Sarah nodded.
"There's a vehicle behind the warehouse."
They hurried toward the rear parking area.
A dusty gray van was parked beside a loading dock.
Sarah reached into her pocket and produced a key.
Walker examined the vehicle.
"Who owns it?"
"My brother."
"Does he know you're using it?"
"He arranged everything."
Walker opened the driver's door.
"I'll drive."
Olivia climbed into the passenger seat while Sarah sat in the back.
The van started.
As they pulled onto the street, Olivia looked through the rear window.
Two black SUVs appeared at the end of the road.
"They've found us."
Walker accelerated.
The vehicles followed.
"Hold on!" he shouted.
The van turned sharply onto a narrow side street. Walker drove through several intersections before entering a crowded commercial district.