She took a deep breath, fighting to coherence against the tide of panic. “I overheard them — in the alley behind the old grocery. They’re planning something bad, really bad. I think they saw me, and now they’re trying to find me.”

Officer Daniels nodded, piecing together the fragments of her story. His instincts told him she was genuine, her fear palpable and raw. “Alright, Lila. You’re safe now. We’ll handle this.”