Chapter 9: The Counter-Offensive
The rain had intensified into a torrential downpour, washing the blood from the courtyard as Vance's cleanup crew dragged the incapacitated mercenaries into unmarked vans. Evelyn stood under the awning of her garage, dressed perfectly once again. She had changed into a sharp, tailored black suit and a trench coat. She looked exactly like the billionaire CEO of the Belmont Hotel Group, but underneath the silk lining of her jacket rested her trusty sidearm.
Vance approached her, handing her a secure tablet. "The police have Julian in holding at the 12th Precinct. He's been screaming for a lawyer for the past two hours. Eleanor made bail for herself, but she left her son there to rot."
Evelyn scrolled through the tablet, analyzing Julian’s intake photos. He looked pathetic, terrified, and utterly broken. "Eleanor always was a survivor. She knows Julian is a sinking ship. But Julian is the only one who knows how Kestrel’s people made contact."
"Evelyn, going to a police precinct right now is risky," Vance warned, crossing his arms. "Kestrel’s people have eyes everywhere. They probably have the precinct surrounded, waiting to silence Julian before he can talk to the feds."
"That's exactly what I'm counting on," Evelyn said, her lips curving into a dangerous smirk. "Julian is the bait. I need to know the extraction protocol Kestrel gave him. Once I know how they planned to get the drive out of the country, I can set a trap."
"What about the drive itself?"
"Keep it in the vault. Do not let anyone near it." Evelyn handed the tablet back to Vance. "Make sure Lily has her breakfast in the morning, and let her watch as many cartoons as she wants. I'll be back before she finishes her pancakes."
Vance sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing with her when she had that look in her eye. "You need backup. I’m sending a tactical squad in plain clothes to trail you."
"Keep them two blocks away. I don't want to spook Kestrel’s spotters," Evelyn instructed.
She climbed into the back of a pristine, bulletproof Maybach. Her driver, a former Special Forces operator named Briggs, pulled out of the estate and headed toward the downtown police precinct. As they drove through the rain-slicked city streets, Evelyn replayed the gala in her mind. Kestrel was meticulous. He wouldn't have trusted Julian unless he had absolute leverage over him, and he wouldn't have left the city without the drive.
Kestrel was still here.
Evelyn touched her earpiece. "Vance, cross-reference all private flights chartered out of the city in the last twenty-four hours. Look for shell companies linked to Eastern European import/export firms. Kestrel needs a quiet way out."
May you like
"On it, Boss," Vance replied.
The Maybach pulled up to the curb outside the 12th Precinct. Evelyn grabbed her umbrella, stepped out into the pouring rain, and prepared to break her ex-husband.
