Chapter 721
Chapter 721:
Liam kicked the door open and stumbled out. He stripped off the stolen EMT jacket he’d thrown on and tossed it into the weeds. He was breathing hard, the adrenaline crash hitting like a physical blow.
A black sedan was parked in the shadow of the rusted fuel pumps. The rear window rolled down.
Julian Vance sat in the backseat shadows, his face obscured by the tint. Felix was in the driver’s seat, looking nervous.
“You’re late,” Julian said from the darkness. “And you brought a siren p>
“Arthur intercepted me,” Liam gasped, opening the rear passenger door and sliding in beside Julian. “He tried to commit me to his sanatorium. I had to improvise p>
“Arthur,” Julian sighed as Felix put the car in gear. “The vulture smells carrion. We’ll have to deal with him later. Right now, you’re the most wanted man in the state. Assault on an officer, grand theft auto, attempted murder… you’ve built quite the rap sheet in twenty-four hours p>
“Is Skye safe?” Liam asked, ignoring the list of his crimes.
“She’s safe,” Julian said. “She’s with Alistair. And she played her part beautifully. The entire world, including the Syndicate, believes she is terrified of you. Your little performance at the beach house was… convincing p>
“She hates me,” Liam said, closing his eyes. “The fear in her eyes… that wasn’t acting, Julian. I pushed her too far p>
“That is exactly why it worked,” Julian said softly. “If she had been acting, the Architect would have seen through it. Her genuine terror was the final seal on your cover story. It was cruel, Liam, but necessary p>
They drove in silence for an hour, winding through back roads until they reached a nondescript farmhouse in the middle of nowhere.
“Welcome to HQ,” Julian said as Felix pulled into the barn.
Inside the farmhouse living room, a fire crackled. And sitting on the rug, eating a bowl of instant ramen, was Parker Hayes.
Parker looked up as they entered, noodles hanging from his mouth. His eyes went wide.
𝘖𝗉𝘵i𝘮𝖺𝗅 𝘳е𝖺di𝗇g 𝘦xpe𝘳𝗶е𝗻с𝗲 оn b𝖾𝗅no𝗏е𝗅𝘴.𝗰om
“Liam!” Parker scrambled up, spilling soup on his shirt. “You’re… you’re not in jail? And Julian? You’re here? What is happening p>
“Sit down, Parker,” Julian ordered, as Felix helped him transfer from the car to a waiting wheelchair in the barn.
Liam collapsed onto the sofa. He looked at Parker. “How the hell are you here? I thought you were in lockup p>
“Julian got me out,” Parker said, gesturing at the older man with his chopsticks. “Turns out being ‘lost in the system’ is a real thing if you have enough money. Felix filed a dozen conflicting motions and transfer requests. I was technically in transit between precincts for three days, but actually, I was just napping in a holding cell until they snuck me out the back door p>
“We couldn’t risk him in the general population,” Julian explained. “The Syndicate has eyes inside the precinct. Parker is safer here p>
“You’re the only one who knows the whole truth now,” Liam said to Parker. “Besides us p>
Parker blinked. “Truth? What truth? You tried to kill Skye! I saw it on the news p>
“It was theater,” Liam said wearily. “Violent, necessary theater p>