When They Beg I Rise (Lemira) novel Chapter 994

She was desperate to secure the evidence and make the Sinclair family pay for what they had done. A few hundred dollars meant nothing.

They entered the men's locker room. Locker 38 looked entirely unremarkable.

When they opened it, they found nothing but a change of clothes and a water bottle. No USB drive.

Lemira pulled everything out and searched thoroughly. It simply wasn't there.

Sebastian looked perplexed. "That doesn't make sense. Hale explicitly said the drive was in here."

"Could he be lying again to stall for time?"

"Highly unlikely. Could someone else have taken it?"

Lemira turned to the manager. "Has anyone else opened this locker?"

"I really couldn't say," the manager replied, looking confused. "Should we check the security footage?"

Just then, a janitor walked past. "I saw someone opening that locker a few minutes ago."

Lemira rushed over to her. "When? What were they wearing? Did you see their face?"

"Just now. They had on a plain gray hoodie and a cap. I couldn't see their face."

Without another word, Lemira bolted toward the exit.

She threw a look over her shoulder at Sebastian. "Split up. Let's find him."

He nodded and sprinted in the opposite direction.

Bursting through the main entrance, Lemira immediately spotted a man in a cap and gray hoodie.

"Stop!" she yelled. "Hand over the drive!"

The man flinched and immediately broke into a run.

She hadn't been entirely certain it was him, but his panicked flight confirmed it. He was the one who had taken the USB.

Who could have possibly gotten here ahead of her?

Staring down at him, she demanded, "Who sent you? Speak!"

Before he could answer, the heavy thud of footsteps echoed behind her. Several rough-looking men covered in tattoos blocked the alley exit. They were clearly trouble.

The man on the ground desperately yelled, "Boss, help me!"

Lemira stood up, facing the thugs. "Whoever hired you, I'll pay double. Just tell me who sent you."

The leader spat on the ground. "We have a code in our line of work. Boys, get that drive back and teach this bitch a lesson."

They pulled out their weapons and advanced.

She locked her eyes on them, bracing herself. She would fight to the death before giving up this drive.

Suddenly, a tall, commanding figure stepped into the alley behind the thugs.

The man's voice was freezing cold. "Hey. Your opponent is right here."