Chapter 3 - THE SAFE HOUSE
Julian Vance had been drummed out of the police department seven years ago under a cloud of fabricated corruption charges. The precinct called him a disgraced rogue cop. To Daniel, Julian had been a brother who would take a bullet without blinking.
Within ninety seconds, Julian had pushed Clara and Lily into the heated cab of his truck, burning rubber as he navigated the wet, maze-like back alleys of the harbor district, far away from the screaming sirens surrounding the impound lot.
Ten minutes later, they pulled into a secluded, windowless boat-repair workshop tucked behind an abandoned dry dock. Inside, under the dim glow of hanging industrial work lights, Julian bolted the heavy iron door, drew heavy steel shutters over the vents, and immediately grabbed a military surplus medical kit.
"Reyes has mobilized the entire SWAT division," Julian said bluntly, cutting away Clara's blood-soaked sleeve to sanitize her shoulder while applying a compression wrap around her torso. "He issued a Level-One Code Red broadcast. He claims you suffered a violent psychotic breakdown at the Municipal Building, stabbed a security guard, and took off with your daughter."
"He was giving money and weapons to a cartel hitman, Julian!" Clara rasped, wincing as the bandages pulled her skin tight. "And there was a photo of Lily inside that bag! He was going to have her taken!"
Julian froze. His hands stopped moving over the medical tape. He turned slowly, his sharp gray eyes fixing on Lily, who was sitting quietly on a wooden workbench, her small hands clutching the silver badge against her yellow coat.
"He went to her school last week," Clara added, her voice dropping to an agonizing whisper. "Julian, why is the Police Captain targeting my seven-year-old daughter?"
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Julian let out a long, heavy breath that sounded like a sigh from the grave. He walked over to a heavy floor safe beneath his workbench, unlocked it with a keycard and a mechanical dial, and pulled out a worn leather-bound binder.
"Because Daniel didn't die eight years ago, Clara," Julian revealed softly, looking at her with overwhelming guilt. "He didn't abandon you, either."
