Chapter 4

Mark' s smile turned predatory. "Alright, I've had enough of this loser's games."

He gestured to his two jock friends. "Guys, escort Mr. Thompson out. Use the back service exit. Maybe teach him some manners on the way. He seems to have forgotten them."

The two friends grinned, cracking their knuckles. They started to move towards Alex.

Kevin looked terrified. "Mark, don't!"

Just as the first jock reached for Alex's arm, Alex's phone buzzed in his pocket. A specific, urgent tone he recognized.

He held up a hand, a simple gesture that somehow made the jocks pause for a split second.

Alex pulled out his phone. The caller ID was blocked, as expected.

He answered. "Thompson."

A crisp, female voice on the other end. "Mr. Thompson, this is Ms. Hayes. Your transport is currently en route to the designated extraction point. We were expecting you at the secure facility an hour ago."

Alex glanced at Mark, then at the opulent surroundings of the O'Connell Innovations campus.

"Ms. Hayes, yes," Alex said into the phone, his voice calm. "I'm a bit tied up at a... social event. Yes, the O'Connell Innovations campus. Perhaps you could reroute the transport here? It might be more efficient, given the circumstances."

Mark and Brittany exchanged amused looks.

"Who is he calling?" Brittany stage-whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear. "His mommy? To come pick him up in her minivan?"

Mark chuckled. "Pathetic. He's actually trying to bluff his way out of this. 'Reroute the transport.' What a joke."

Alex ignored them, listening to Ms. Hayes. "Understood. Yes, the main entrance should be fine. I'll meet them there. Thank you."

He hung up.

"Well?" Mark demanded, arms crossed. "Is your imaginary escort service on its way?"

Alex just looked at him. "They'll be here in a few minutes."

"Oh, I'm shaking," Mark said, rolling his eyes. "Come on, guys. Let's get this over with."

The jocks moved forward again.

Then, through the large glass windows of the event center, they all saw it.

Headlights. Not one pair, but three, sweeping across the manicured lawns of the campus.

A convoy of black, unmarked SUVs, the kind that screamed federal agency, was moving rapidly towards the main building. They moved with a silent, intimidating precision.

The music suddenly seemed too loud. The laughter died in people's throats.

The SUVs pulled up to the curb directly in front of the event center's main entrance. Doors opened.