The entrance of the Hospital was crowded with journalists, flashing cameras, and tight-lipped nurses moving back and forth.
Nelly and Omar stepped out of the car, hoods up and heads low to avoid attention.
Omar approached the front desk.
> "We're here to see Jimmy Benson. He's a student—"
> "Sorry," the nurse interrupted firmly, "No visitors unless you're direct family. Doctor's orders."
Nelly frowned. "But he's awake now, isn't he?"
> "Yes," the nurse said cautiously. "But still—no access."
Defeated, they turned away and stepped outside just in time to see Julie rushing out of the hospital through the back doors — wearing dark shades and holding her bag close.
> "Is that…?" Nelly's voice trailed off.
Julie jumped into a yellow cab, slammed the door, and didn't look back.
> "That's Julie," Omar said, eyes narrowing. "And she's running."
He grabbed his phone. "Yusuf, follow that cab. Now."
Their black SUV moved into gear and slid smoothly into traffic, keeping a safe distance behind the yellow cab.
---
INSIDE THE CAR
Nelly sat stiffly, eyes fixed ahead, heart pounding.
> "Why would she visit the hospital... and sneak out like that?" she asked.
Omar leaned forward, watching the cab carefully. "Because she didn't want anyone to see her. Maybe Jimmy woke up. Maybe she said something she doesn't want heard."
> "Or maybe," Nelly said quietly, "she was checking if he remembered who shot him."
Omar glanced at her.
> "If she's involved, she's scared. And scared people make mistakes."
Nelly bit her lip. "You think she really did it?"
> "I think," Omar replied, "that the only people who disappear after a crime… are the ones who have something to hide."
> "She used to say Jimmy was hers," Nelly whispered. "She said I was stealing him. That I didn't deserve someone like him."
Omar shook his head. "That's not love. That's obsession."
> "And she didn't show up at the police station… didn't defend me… didn't even call."
Nelly looked down. "But she visited him."
They rode in silence for a beat, then Nelly whispered:
> "If Julie really did this… then Mr. Benson arrested the wrong person. On purpose."
Omar's jaw tightened.
> "Then it's time we find out what he's hiding… and what Julie's running from."
Up ahead, the cab turned sharply off the main road — heading toward a quiet, unfamiliar part of town.
Omar raised an eyebrow.
> "This doesn't look like anywhere you'd go for peace."
Nelly sat forward, her voice tight.
> "Then let's see where Julie finds hers."
---
The cab finally pulled off the main road and rolled into a quiet, broken part of town — cracked sidewalks, flickering streetlights, and buildings that looked like they hadn't seen life in years.
Nelly leaned forward from the back seat of the SUV.
> "Why would she come here?" she whispered.
Omar's eyes stayed locked on the cab. "That's the question."
Their driver, Yusuf, slowed the SUV and parked a block away.
From the back window, they watched as Julie stepped out of the cab, glanced around nervously, and hurried toward a gray concrete building with a faded red door.
There was no name on the front. Just rusted bars on the windows… and a strange symbol spray-painted on the wall.
Julie knocked twice.
A tall man in black opened the door just a crack.
She whispered something, handed him a small brown envelope, and slipped inside before the door shut tight.
> "That looked like money," Nelly muttered.
> "And he didn't check ID. He knew her," Omar added.
They exchanged a glance.
> "Let's move."
---
Minutes Later...
Omar and Nelly crept through the side alley, hearts pounding.
They crouched behind a low wall, watching from a distance as shadows moved inside through the dusty windows.
From this angle, they could make out Julie's figure — arms folded, standing tensely beside two strange men, one holding a phone.
Muffled voices came through a cracked window.
> "...You told me it would scare him, not nearly kill him!"
> "We don't clean up messes. That wasn't part of the deal."
> "If anyone finds out—"
The taller man cut her off.
> "No one will. The girl's still blamed. That's all that matters, right?"
Julie didn't respond.
Omar's hand clenched into a fist. "She paid someone. She's involved."
Nelly's heart sank. "This was never about Luna. Julie went behind even her."
Suddenly, a noise — a loud metal thud from behind them.
Omar yanked Nelly down.
> "Someone's coming!"
They ducked into the shadow of a nearby stairwell as the red door creaked open.
Julie stepped out — looking over her shoulder nervously — then rushed down the street, heels clicking like a clock counting down.
The men stayed inside.
Omar turned to Nelly.
> "We need to go. And fast."
> "We just heard her admit it," Nelly whispered. "We need proof. A recording. Something."
Omar's voice was low, urgent.
> "We'll come back. But if they see us now, we're done."
---
Back in the car, hearts racing, Nelly stared out the window.
Her voice was steady now. Cold.
> "She tried to scare Jimmy. And it nearly killed him."
Omar nodded.
> "And she let you take the fall."
They both knew what came next.
> Find proof. Expose Julie. Save Jimmy.
Later that night, the sky was black velvet, stars hidden behind a thick layer of clouds.
Omar and Nelly stood outside the same broken-down building, dressed in all black. No lights on the street. No cameras. Just the sound of distant traffic and one barking dog.
> "Are you sure about this?" Omar whispered.
Nelly nodded. "They tried to destroy my life. This is the only way to take it back."
He handed her a tiny recorder the size of a button.
> "We'll plant it under the table near the window. You distract anyone if they show up. I'll handle the rest."
She hesitated… then gave a tight nod.
They crossed the street and slid along the side of the building again, just like earlier. This time, it was completely quiet. No movement. The lights inside were off.
Omar slowly pried open the side window with a penknife and slipped inside. Nelly waited just outside, heart pounding like a drum in her chest.
Seconds ticked by.
Then—
Soft footsteps.
Nelly tensed… but it was just Omar. He reappeared, whispering:
> "It's done. Right under the table where they talked."
> "Let's go."
But as they turned to leave—
A sudden sound.
Footsteps approaching. A male voice. Keys jangling.
> "Someone's coming," Nelly hissed.
Omar grabbed her hand and pulled her around the side, ducking into the shadows just as the red door opened.
One of the men from earlier stepped out, speaking on the phone.
> "Yeah. She paid again. Says the boy's still in surgery. Wants it cleaned up fast... No, she didn't mention Luna. Just herself."
Nelly and Omar's eyes widened. Confirmation. Again.
> "I told her not to get greedy. That school's crawling with cameras. Someone's going to catch—"
The man lit a cigarette and walked away, still talking.
Once he was far enough down the road, they both exhaled.
> "We got it," Omar whispered.
> "That's two pieces of proof in one day," Nelly added.
> "We bring this to the right person—your name gets cleared."
---
BACK IN OMAR'S ROOM – LATER THAT NIGHT
Omar played the recording back. Julie's voice echoed through the speaker:
> "You told me it would scare him, not nearly kill him!"
> "If anyone finds out—"
> "No one will. The girl's still blamed. That's all that matters, right?"
Nelly stood frozen, eyes locked on the speaker.
Then… tears rolled down her cheeks.
> "They really did it. I wasn't crazy."
Omar handed her a tissue.
> "No. You were right. And now—we're taking them all down."