Chapter 157: Taken Back to the Police Station

Chapter 157: Chapter 157: Taken Back to the Police Station

But the very next second, Dexter Bishop shook his head in denial. "No, it can’t be him!"

’Wyatt Ford’s hands were far from clean. The things he’s done for me are enough to earn a full magazine emptied into his chest!’

Evan Keller wasted no more words on him, simply directing the officers at his side to take them down.

One of Dexter Bishop’s men gritted his teeth. ’It’s a dead end either way. Might as well take someone with me!’

But just as he raised his hand, before he could even pull the trigger, a bullet tore through it.

"AH!" The man screamed, clutching his hand. The hearts of the others clenched, and a trace of fear entered their eyes.

’These cops aren’t bluffing!’

Staring down the black muzzles of the guns pointed at them, a few who didn’t want to die hesitated before tossing their weapons to the floor and raising their hands.

Once one person gave in, others followed.

With the first man leading the way, several more surrendered.

"What are you doing? Hold the line!" Rudy Lane’s eyes darted to the stair railing beside him. There was a gap. If he jumped, he could land on the floor below.

’Then he could jump out the window on the landing. He might just be able to escape.’

’If I remember correctly, the glass in that window is already broken, so it’ll be easy to get through. The only thing to worry about is the jump from the second floor. Will I even be able to run after I land?’

’But a gamble is better than just getting caught!’

’But before he could act, he needed someone to draw the cops’ attention.’

Rudy Lane plotted his escape route, all while pulling Dexter Bishop closer to his side.

’He was still the boss, after all. He had to keep up appearances.’

"Old Man Dex, things aren’t looking good. When will your backup get here?" Rudy Lane asked in a low voice, pretending to shield Dexter Bishop.

Dexter Bishop’s expression was grim. He wanted to know the answer to that, too!

’If he could, he’d call them right now and tell them to get over here, but he didn’t have the chance!’

"This is bad, Old Man Dex. If this keeps up, we’re all going to be arrested," Rudy Lane said, pulling Dexter Bishop closer to the railing while his eyes kept darting to the floor below.

Heath Hale, standing behind them, saw every one of his subtle movements.

Following Rudy Lane’s gaze to the window on the landing below, he raised an eyebrow in understanding.

’So that’s his plan.’

He quickly and quietly radioed his colleagues downstairs, telling them to wait for him.

Slowly, Rudy Lane managed to pull Dexter Bishop right up against the railing.

After estimating the distance and deciding the jump wouldn’t seriously injure him, Rudy Lane violently shoved Dexter Bishop forward.

As Evan Keller and his team moved to pin Dexter Bishop, Rudy Lane vaulted over the railing, jumped down, and crashed through the window to escape.

"We have a runner!"

Rudy Lane tucked and rolled, absorbing most of the impact.

’He inwardly celebrated his successful gamble. He wasn’t hurt!’

Rudy Lane scrambled to his feet, ready to make a run for it, only to see a line of police officers standing right in front of him.

Every one of them had a grim expression, and the weapons they carried looked far more advanced than the ones used by the team inside.

’They had people waiting outside...’

Rudy Lane had just started to raise his gun to fight back when something cold pressed against the back of his head.

"I... I surrender! Don’t shoot." Rudy Lane dropped his gun, raised his hands, his face filled with panic.

He was promptly cuffed with his hands behind his back.

Upstairs, Dexter Bishop’s chin had slammed into the stairs and was already red and swollen.

When Evan Keller and his men hauled him to his feet, his expression was one of pure disbelief. "But... why did this happen?"

"Why? Because your boy ditched you to find his own way out," Evan Keller couldn’t resist mocking him.

His face, however, showed no sense of urgency.

’A cornered rat will bite, but it’s not like we left the downstairs unguarded.’

After that, Evan Keller and his team wasted no time. They swept the entire building, and only after confirming nothing was missed did they depart with the evidence and the arrested men, including Dexter Bishop.

Meanwhile, outside the police precinct, Boss Thorne minded his stall, occasionally glancing over at the station.

When he saw a convoy of vehicles pull up to the entrance and Evan Keller step out of one, his eyes widened in shock.

’Wait, when did Evan Keller even leave?’

’Why didn’t I see him go?’

’He hasn’t left the building since he got back! Not a single car has pulled out!’

’Could there be another, secret exit from the precinct that I don’t know about?’

’If so, I need to report this to Old Man Dex.’

Boss Thorne dialed the familiar number, but it rang and rang with no answer.

With each BEEP, a bad feeling grew in Boss Thorne’s gut.

"You won’t be able to reach him. I have his phone," Evan Keller said, stopping in front of Boss Thorne. He held up a phone that was vibrating nonstop. "If you have something to say, Boss Thorne, you can say it inside."

Boss Thorne recognized the number on the screen. It was his.

’It’s over...’

’It’s all over...’

All the strength drained from Boss Thorne’s body and he collapsed to the ground. His phone slipped from his grasp, clattering beside him. His face was a mask of despair.

’If only I’d known... If only I hadn’t been so greedy and had just left earlier!’

’Then I wouldn’t have lost everything.’

Evan Keller noted the regret on Boss Thorne’s face. As for what he regretted, Keller had no interest in finding out.

He had his officers take the man away, then headed inside himself.

There was still a lot of work to do. He didn’t have time to waste on this.

"Keller, you go get some rest. We can hand off some of the interrogations to the colleagues from the provincial bureau who are here to help." The Chief walked in just as Evan Keller sat down, patting him on the shoulder and urging him to take a break.

Evan Keller was about to agree when Vivian Dunn appeared at the doorway. She knocked, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Chief, Captain Keller," she began, her expression complicated, "that guy we arrested first, Wyatt Ford, isn’t cooperating. He’s demanding to speak with Captain Keller and only Captain Keller."

Before Evan Keller or the Chief could respond, Vivian Dunn continued, "Also, the one named Pierce Miller says he has important intel to provide, but only if we agree to his demands."

Evan Keller rubbed his temples. "I’ll go see what’s going on with Wyatt Ford. As for Pierce Miller, put him on ice for now. We’ll deal with him after I’m done."

Heath Hale was about to ask Zoe Sawyer to go with him when he noticed her sitting at her desk in a daze.

Her left hand was pressed to her chest as she stared blankly at her right hand.

’Something... felt different.’