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Bryce stood frozen staring at the door Assad had just left through, he had always known that getting involved with Sophia and Lacie would eventually land him in trouble, Lacies death had confirmed this, but he had never expected it to blow back to him so quickly, if he wanted to save Sophia or himself he would have to act immediately.

Sophia was nervous. She knew she would have to involve Skye in their plans, but she still didn’t know if the girl could be trusted. She definitely didn’t want to be there anymore than Sophia did, but that didn’t mean that she was necessarily on their side. Sophia was sat next to Skye on the bus on their way to Sarhos. Skye reached over and gently brushed a hair out of Sophias face. Sophia instinctively pulled her head away.

Skye smiled her gently. ‘Why so jumpy?’

Sophia ran her hand through her hair. ‘I'm not, just don’t like people touching me.’

Skye laughed loudly. ‘This job must be torture for you then!’

Sophia couldn’t help but smile. ‘Not exactly my first choice.’

Bryce had never fired a gun in his life. In fact this was the first time he was actually touching a gun. The gun felt heavy in his hand, the cold steel felt awkward and uncomfortable.

‘How much?’ asked Bryce.

‘Eight hundred dollars,’ replied Ghazawan. ‘All up front, all cash.’

Bryce shook his head and paid Ghazawan. He knew he was being ripped off, but he was in no position to argue or try to bargain. Bryce tucked the gun into the front pouch of his camera bag and pushed under the passenger seat of his car. Bryce sat in the drivers seat with his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, he took a few deep breaths to settle himself and then pulled away. It was time.

22:34 Friday

Detective Ariyo sat behind his desk. A fresh cup of hot coffee in his left hand tapping his pen against the cold varnished wood of his work desk. He had been working late nearly every night for the last few weeks. He didn’t mind too much, working a few extra hours kept him in the captains good books, and right now that was best place to be, at least until the investigations were over. It had long been suspected that there were officers who were involved in a questionable dealings. Since the death of that woman, the department had put every available resource into investigating the kidnappings that had happened in the area. Detective Ariyo wasn’t too worried, the only two men who could connect him to anything, were both dead, Peta had been found shot dead at the drop point, and Detective Ariyo had personally put a bullet in Arikawes head at the end of their last meeting.