Charlotte gripped the steering wheel as she carefully drove past Tim's house. Gravel crunched and rocked the car, a metaphor for her mood.

He had been paid off.

The realization hit her again, it sounded almost unbelievable. She had come to Denver to expose what was really going on at the airport. Now she found her first official witness that directly connected the dots, right to the source. But who was the source? Or what, more specifically, as it had to be a group of people and not just a solitary entity. Her stomach lurched at the thoughts racing through her mind. She tightened her posture, glancing up into the rear view mirror. Tim stood on his porch, watching her. The trees shrouded his figure though, as she made the first winding turn away from his house.

Johir wanted me to come here.

He had all but sent her in fact. Why would he do that? She was a podcaster, most people looked at them as amateur investigators. He had no idea what her background was, not really. She mulled it over as the gravel road slowly turned back into pavement. The bumping of the car ceased as she pulled out once more, onto the two lane highway. She cleared her throat and told herself to go back to the beginning.

Johir came off as unassuming, and charming.

She replayed the moment she first met him in her mind. He was already outside of the building, waiting for her. A normal CEO wouldn't do that, he or she would stay in their office, leaving a secretary or someone else to handle the task. Johir was cocky then, she surmised. He lightly flirted with her as well. Another sign that he was 'in charge" of their meeting. Then suggesting that she go to dinner with him this morning on the phone. Something felt off. Something rubbed Charlotte the wrong way about him.

He already knew the two men's names I was looking for.

That detail alone was enough to give her pause, as a slight chill overtook her body. What wasn't adding up? She shook he head slightly, clearing out the cobwebs in her mind. The men had gone through counseling he'd told her. Brought in by himself, to give them relief from whatever they experienced after working the job. It was odd when he'd said it as she'd never heard of construction jobs needing such a service from their employer.

Given what she'd already seen while under the airport, and the star symbols, Charlotte's stomach started to twist into a knot. Could Johir be one of the members of the organization she was trying to uncover? So far, he was completely unconnected in her mind. And he wasn't recommended by Zach or anyone else at the airport, for a contact to talk to about her podcast. She'd found the company on her own after extensive research.

"This isn't adding up!" she exclaimed, drumming her fingers on the steering wheel.

Then it dawned on her. Jeremy Johir had used his looks to gain her trust. Exactly as she was doing with Zach Haupt, at the airport. She hated to admit she'd been bested, but it was true.

Good thing Marcus can't see me now.

Her mind twinged with a stab of regret. It hurt, briefly, before the feeling passed. Charlotte could still picture his eyes, patiently staring back at her, as they walked in Egypt. He had genuinely cared for her and she him. She knew the memories did little to console her and they weren't helpful. Marcus was with someone else, back in LA. They'd made their choice.

Bright headlights flashed in her peripheral vision, breaking her thoughts. A dark car was suddenly riding her butt. Pulse quickening, she slowed slightly. The car most likely wanted to pass. It edged closer and Charlotte strained her eyes, trying to make out any identifying features. She saw a BMW symbol. The windshield was blacked out, almost completely, making a driver virtually invisible.

Shit.

This wasn't good.

She hadn't been paying attention, and she knew the car had to have been following her. This stretch of highway was virtually desolate. And now the sun was starting to set. The rays had turned the sky a bright blast of colors. The BMW swerved then revved fast, its engine shooting loud sounds through the air. Even inside of her rental, Charlotte heard it. Her eyes flit to the rear view mirror and back to the front. What should she do?

The sedan then quickly slowed down, falling back a few car lengths behind her. As if nothing had happened. Charlotte exhaled loudly, in a state of shock. A realization hit her; coming out here alone wasn't smart, and no one knew where she was. Another rookie mistake. Doing this podcast alone had been a gamble from the start, but now it was a dangerous one.

"What was I thinking?"

Talking to herself wasn't going to help either and she knew it. Deciding to speed up, Charlotte pressed her foot on the gas pedal. The speedometer shot up by ten extra miles an hour. It was more of a test, as she knew the BMW could easily overtake her. There might be a chance she was imagining this as a threat. Maybe it was merely some rich jerk, heading back to Denver from his or her vacation home.

She glanced into the rear view mirror once more. The black sedan also matched her acceleration. It kept a close pace.

Shit. They have to be following me.

Not one to look at her phone and drive, she decided this was far too important. Her cell had directions up on Google Maps. She tapped the screen a few times until it showed a few alternate routes back into the city. Her heart dropped at the squiggly lines, all there was were worse roads than what she was currently on. That wouldn't help.

"What do I do?" she lamented aloud.

She needed to get to a more populated roadway. The only foresees option was to haul ass to the freeway. At this point, the sky was darkening, almost to an even hue of black. The sun had set. She flicked her lights on and pushed even more on the gas. The BMW did the same, insisting on keeping pace. Her mind went blank as Tim's words echoed in her mind. They asked him to sign a non disclosure agreement and he kept receiving money, to this day. She was dealing with a large entity.

Maybe it's the government.

The US government had hidden hundreds if not thousands of things from the public over the years. Most of it stayed hidden, and what was exposed was done on purpose. She swallowed a lump forming in her throat. Her fingers felt sweaty, tinged with moisture that came with an anxiety attack. She needed to think, not freak out. This was just one more hairy situation she could chalk up to doing investigative work. At least that's what her racing mind surmised.

"It can't be from Johir. He wouldn't send me there only to intimidate me afterwards."

Her thoughts filled the car as she talked through it. The BMW inched closer again, vying to make contact with her bumper. Whoever was driving seemed to be dead set on scaring her. She hoped that was all they would do. Her eyes darted back and forth, scanning her surroundings, trying to come up with a game plan. There were woods on both sides with occasional breaks where hills popped out. Not a place to abandon a vehicle.

I can't get out of the car, even if I wanted to.

Marcus had taught her how to be self aware when they went on their first trip as film researchers. The studio had always paid for guides, but not for security. What she wouldn't give right now for his advice. For a split second, she contemplated calling him. He was still set as one of her speed dial contacts. But, she couldn't do it. It wouldn't be fair.

"The freeways only two miles away. I can do this."

The rental cars engine revved with the application of her foot pressing on the gas. She just had to get to the on-ramp, then there would be more people. She couldn't see whoever was tailing her doing something stupid with so many dash cams out there. Not to mention cell phones. The BMW kept a tight pace, accelerating to match.

Charlotte's heart rate was high, higher than it should've been. She could feel it hammering in her chest. One mile left. The freeway was so close. Her hands gripped the steering wheel as she glanced at the speedometer. The number jumped out at her, 90 mph. How could they be going that fast? She let up on the accelerator just as the BMW decided to increase their speed.

A sickening thud shot out as Charlotte's car was hit. The impact sent her skidding.

Jesus! Help me!

Her last thoughts were coupled with losing control, the car spinning as she felt herself being held in by her seatbelt.

I don't want to die.