Chapter 13 - THE CONFRONTATION AT DUSK
While police cruisers patrolled the perimeter of Oak Park, a black sedan pulled up to the curb two blocks away from the safe house.
Julian Cross sat in the driver's seat, his right hand wrapped tightly in bloody gauze. His face was gaunt, his eyes hollowed out by fear and sleeplessness. On the passenger seat lay a loaded snub-nosed revolver Vance’s fixer had provided him.
“If you don't secure the blueprint flash drive from Nathan's possession,” Vance’s voice echoed in Julian's memory from their last phone call, “I will personally turn over all the wire transfer records to the FBI and leave you to rot in a federal cage.”
Julian stepped out of the car, pulling his jacket collar up against the rain. He slunk down the alleyway, slipping through the unlocked back gate of the safe house.
Inside, Ellie was playing quietly with her toy blocks on the rug while Clara prepared dinner in the kitchen. Nathan was upstairs reviewing the blueprints Miller had left behind.
The back door clicked open.
Clara turned around, dropping a glass bowl onto the tile floor with a loud CRASH!
"Julian?" Clara gasped, stepping back in terror, instinctively shielding Ellie behind her legs.
Julian stood in the doorway, soaked from the rain, his gun held in a trembling hand. "Clara... please. Don't scream. I just need the drive from Nate's bag. I need to leave the country."
"You tried to kill him!" Clara screamed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "He's your brother!"
"I HAD NO CHOICE!" Julian shouted, his voice cracking hysterically. "Vance threatened to destroy me! I was broke, Clara! I didn't know they were going to run him off the road!"
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Footsteps thundered down the stairs. Nathan charged into the kitchen, his eyes burning with fury as he saw the gun pointed near his wife and child.
"Put the gun down, Julian!" Nathan commanded, stepping directly between the barrel and his family.
