Chapter 706
Chapter 706:
He ducked under the yellow tape. A uniform stepped in to block him, but Chief Liu waved him through.
I watched as Liam walked toward the police van where they were loading Parker. Liam leaned in. He didn’t look like a savior. He looked like an executioner. He lowered his voice to a harsh whisper, ensuring the nearby officers couldn’t overhear the specifics.
“Listen to me closely, Parker,” Liam hissed. “You are the prime suspect for the arson at my manor. Unless you turn state’s witness and give up everything you know about your father’s operations, you will rot in general population. Do you understand p>
Parker’s face went from hopeful to terrified in a split second. He shrank back against the seat, nodding rapidly, tears spilling over his lashes.
Liam stepped back as the doors slammed shut.
The interrogation room was a box of gray concrete and fluorescent hums. The air smelled of stale coffee and fear. Liam stood on the other side of the one-way glass, watching Parker huddled in the metal chair. The kid was shaking so hard the handcuffs rattled against the table.
“You were hard on him,” I said, stepping up beside Liam. I had managed to talk my way in with Alistair’s help.
“Necessary,” Liam muttered. He didn’t look at me. “If he thinks he’s safe, he’ll say something stupid. He’ll try to protect his father. I needed him to be more afraid of me than of the Syndicate p>
“What did you tell him p>
“I told him the truth about his situation,” Liam said flatly. “And that his only path to survival is The Hole. Maximum-security protective custody. If he’s just a witness, the Syndicate can get to him. If he’s a high-value asset turning state’s evidence, he gets buried where no one can find him p>
“You’re manipulating him,” I said, a chill running down my spine. “He trusts you p>
“Trust gets you killed,” Liam said.
He turned to leave the observation room.
𝘠𝘰𝗎𝗿 n𝖾х𝘁 𝗋еаd 𝗶𝘀 o𝗻 𝗯еlոо𝗏𝖾𝘭𝗌.𝘤𝗼𝘮
In the hallway, we ran into Victoria being escorted to the ladies’ room by a weary-looking officer. Victoria spotted Liam and stopped dead.
“Liam!” she cried out, her voice shedding the shrill edge and adopting a sultry, desperate tone. “Liam, honey, you have to get me a lawyer. Not the family one. He’s Dad’s. Get me your lawyer. The shark p>
Liam looked at her with an expression of pure distaste. “My lawyers are for my family, Victoria. You aren’t family p>
Victoria’s face twisted. The mask of the damsel crumbled, revealing the viper underneath.
“Is that right?” she hissed, stepping closer, ignoring the officer’s tug on her arm. “You think you’re so high and mighty, Liam Kensington. You think you can just discard us because your little ex-wife is back in the picture p>
She shot a venomous glare at me.
“Careful, Victoria,” Liam warned, his voice dropping an octave. “You’re already in deep water p>
“I know things, Liam!” Victoria shouted, her voice echoing off the tiled walls. “I heard him! I heard Dad talking to the Architect on the secure line! I know about the deal! I know what your mother did! I saw the tapes in his safe before he burned them p>