CHAPTER FORTY – DRIVING INTO THE DANGER ZONE

Clara nodded grimly, restarting the engine and maneuvering the car back into traffic. The city lights seemed to mock them with their indifferent glow, a silent witness to their reckless endeavor. "We have to be smooth," Scarlett continued, her voice barely a whisper above the roaring engine. "We need to find a way in, return the journal, and get out before she even realizes anything is wrong." Clara pursed her lips, determination hardening her features. "We can do this," she declared, her voice regaining its strength. "We have to." The building loomed ahead, a dark silhouette against the starless night sky. Parking the car in a deserted alley across the street, Clara and Scarlett huddled under the meager shelter of a flickering streetlamp. "Alright," Clara whispered, her voice tense, "here's the plan. Remember the fire escape we saw from the park last week?" Scarlett recalled a rusty metal contraption clinging to the building's facade. "Vaguely," she admitted, her stomach churning