He touched it.
Behind the wall was a hidden compartment.
Inside:
Maps.
Cash.
A passport.
And a key.
The key had a number engraved on it.
312
Nathan stared.
“That's how far I rode.”
Rico looked confused.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Then Nathan noticed a handwritten message.
The road ends where it began.
Rico looked at him.
“Sioux City?”
Nathan nodded.
“Evan came from Sioux City.”
“Maybe he went back.”
They drove through the night.
At dawn, they reached an abandoned warehouse.
The key opened the door.
Inside was a motorcycle.
Evan's motorcycle.
Dust covered it.
But the tires were new.
Nathan approached slowly.
He touched the handlebars.
Then heard a sound.
A door closing.
Someone ran.
Nathan chased.
He caught the man outside.
It was a teenager.
Seventeen, perhaps.
He was terrified.
“Who are you?”
The boy shook.
“I'm not involved.”
“Then why are you here?”
“My father told me.”
“Who?”
The boy hesitated.
“Evan Parker.”
Nathan froze.
“Where is he?”
The boy pointed toward the road.
“He's alive.”
---
The teenager's name was Caleb.
He told them Evan had been hiding for three years.
“He couldn't contact his family.”
“Why?”
“He was investigating something.”
“What?”
Caleb looked at Nathan.
“A trafficking operation.”
Nathan's face hardened.
“People?”
“Money. Weapons. Stolen motorcycles. Information.”
“Who ran it?”
Caleb gave them a name.
Victor Sloan.
Nathan knew him.
Everyone did.
Sloan owned several transport companies.
He sponsored charity events.
He donated to veterans.
He shook hands with politicians.
And he had once been photographed standing beside members of Nathan's brotherhood.
Rico cursed.
“He infiltrated us.”
Caleb nodded.
“Evan found out.”
“What happened?”
“They caught him.”
“Where is he now?”
Caleb looked toward the warehouse.
“Underground.”
They followed him to a hidden stairway.
It led to a basement.
There, chained to a pipe, was Evan Parker.
Alive.
Thin.
Bearded.
Older.
But alive.
Nathan stopped breathing.
Evan looked up.
For a moment, neither man spoke.
Then Evan smiled.
“Took you long enough.”
Nathan laughed through tears.
“You son of a—”
He hugged him.
Rico turned away.
He didn't want anyone seeing his face.
Evan whispered,
“Lily?”
“Safe.”
His eyes closed.
“Thank God.”
Nathan cut the chains.
“We're taking you home.”
Evan shook his head.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because Sloan knows where she is.”
Nathan froze.
“What?”
Evan grabbed his arm.
“The list.”
“We have it.”
“You don't understand.”
He looked at Rico.
“The list isn't a list of enemies.”
“Then what is it?”
Evan whispered,
“It's a list of people Sloan controls.”
Nathan felt cold.
“Twenty-three names.”
“Twenty-three people.”
“Why?”
“Because Sloan has their families.”
Rico stared at him.
“And the pink ribbon?”
Evan looked at Nathan.
“She was supposed to find you.”
“Why me?”
“Because you're the only man I trusted who wasn't afraid to lose everything.”
Nathan shook his head.
“You knew I'd come.”
Evan smiled.
“I knew Lily would make you.”
---
When they returned, Lily ran toward Evan.
“Daddy!”
Evan dropped to his knees.
She collided with him.
For several seconds, he simply held her.
Nathan looked away.
Rico wiped his eyes.
Margaret collapsed into a chair.
The reunion lasted only minutes.
Then Evan became serious.
“There isn't much time.”
Nathan frowned.
“You've been missing three years.”
“I know.”
“Sloan thinks you're dead.”
“He thinks I'm still dead.”
“Then we're ahead.”
Evan shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Lily.
“She knows where the evidence is.”
Everyone stared.
Lily looked confused.
“I do?”
Evan smiled.
“Remember the box?”
“The blue one?”
“Yes.”
Lily nodded.
“What was inside?”
“A toy.”
Evan looked at Nathan.
“The toy contains the key.”
Nathan frowned.
“To what?”
“A drive.”
They searched Lily's backpack.
Inside was a small stuffed rabbit.
Nathan opened it carefully.
A tiny memory card was hidden inside.
Rico stared.
“This little girl carried evidence for three years?”
Evan nodded.
“She didn't know what it was.”
“Why didn't you take it?”
“Because I knew Sloan was watching me.”