Lucinda preferred him smoke-free, looking sharp and tidy.


    Despite the slim odds of reuniting with her tonight, he made sure to look his best.


    The brief separation felt like an eternity to Nathan.


    He had never felt this panicky in the past few years.


    After enduring over an hour of worry, the convoy of armored vehicles halted at a roadblock on the Cliffhigh highway.


    A police team awaited them at the junction.


    Lonnie stepped out, fetched arge ck umbre, and circled to the back to shield Nathan from the rain.


    .


    .


    Library


    Nathan exited the car without a sideways nce and walked straight toward Fitzpatrick Walker, the local police chief.


    “Good evening, Mr.


    Payne.


    I’m Fitzpatrick Walker, the captain here.


    You’re still engaged in official duties sote.


    You must be weary,”


    Fitzpatrick said, nodding his head in respect.


    Nathan acknowledged his greeting.


    “Thank you And how are things here? Caught any vehicles trying to slip through?”


    “This area’s usually quiet.


    In thest hour, we’ve only stopped two vehicles for identity checks.


    ”


    “Good,” Nathan replied, and then paused briefly before asking, “Is the surveincework fully operational?”


    “Absolutely, Mr.


    Payne.


    All cameras are functional, and the footage is intact.


    ”


    “Let’s review all the surveince data from earlier tonight and look for any unusual activity,” Nathan directed.


    “Will do,” Fitzpatrick confirmed.


    An officer then lifted the barricade, clearing the way for Nathan’s convoy to proceed.


    Nathan re-entered the car and before the door shut, he beckoned to Fitzpatrick outside.


    “Come in.


    ”


    “Me?” Fitzpatrick sounded both surprised and delighted as he closed his umbre, shook off the rain, and bent down to sit across from Nathan in the armored vehicle.


    They immediately headed toward the independent monitoring station down the road.


    Within a short two minutes, Fitzpatrick handed Nathan the tablet, saying, “We’ve verified the details of the two vehicles.


    All identities are confirmed.


    ”


    Nathan epted the tablet, his face grave as he quickly looked over the information, finding no issues with the identities or the people involved.Content provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    Tension filled the vehicle.


    Fitzpatrick, sweating and nervous, sat rigidly opposite Nathan.


    Leaning slightly toward Lonnie, he whispered for reassurance, “Lonnie, what’s going on? Mr.


    Payne looks like he could snap.


    If he had a gun, I’d be dead.


    ”


    Lonnie didn’t respond, the effort to hold backughter draining him.