Page 72 of Chaos Crown

Thud!

“He’s down, A.”

“Hmm. That was easier than I thought,” said our new friend. “I almost feel bad taking your money now. We didn’t break a sweat.”

“Want to continue the self-celebration after you get us out of here?” I remarked.

He chuckled. The guy went to the closet Peters was shuffling through, snagged a flashlight, and got the key off her belt. We filed out and Roan claimed the keys. He went through to the interrogation rooms.

“Go,” I stated. “We’ve got it from here.”

“Not even a thank-you.” A fainttskreached my ear. “Not very nice, but at least I’ve got a couple thousand to ease the sting. I’ll be calling you about that favor, Bedlam Boys.”

Favor?My eyes narrowed to slits.What favor?

“Real soon.”

They left as easily as they came, leaving us with two unconscious bodies and an unsuspecting cop on the way back.

“We need to get out of here before Mars comes back,” Jacques said. But he wasn’t moving either.

The three of us, then five as Roan and Legend returned, made a still and watchful circle around Davidson.

“He’d know where my father is.” Cairo spoke in a thin, low hiss.

“It’s six-fifteen,” Legend said. “He’ll tell us, but not quickly. And not before Mars sends out a statewide alert for a missing acting sheriff.”

“Won’t know until we try.” Cairo knelt and secured the man in his own handcuffs. “I don’t know about you, but I’m highly motivated to make this a quick conversation. Forty-five minutes is plenty of time.”

“You... think so?” Davidson’s laugh ground my teeth. “Let’s find out, shall we?”

“Get him up.”

We lifted him, dragging his dead weight out the door. Davidson’s head lolled to my side. “This will be fun.

He smiled. “For me too.”

***

DANTE

We watched through the window as the Bedlam Boys strolled out of the station, and loaded Davidson into the trunk of his own car.

“Shouldn’t we do something? Stop them?”

I shook my head. “We came here to pick Davidson up and teach him the error of his ways. Whatever they’re going to do to him, he’s got coming for messing up the plan. The Bedlam Boys are supposed to end up on trial for murder, but not for Scott’s. Stupid, short-sighted fuck set us back so far, I’m wondering if he’s double-dealing for Cavendish.”

“I wouldn’t be surprised,” my companion replied. “Scott always said he wasn’t really one of us. He was just too useful to get rid of.”

“While Sheriff Sharpe is not.” I started the car. “The Bedlam Boys can have him, but they don’t get Jack Sharpe. I promised to kill him if Steven Ellis lived to stand up before the crowd and make his speech. Unlike everyone else in this town, I keep my word.”

Steering away from the curb, I headed off in the opposite direction... to Sheriff Sharpe.

“We still need the Ellises dead. What’s the plan now?”

“The Bedlam Boys can figure out the how and where. The only thing I need to do is provide the motivation.” I dipped my chin. “Paris. We grab her next. Cairo endured Riot Royale to protect her from the Crows. He cares about her, even if he pretends he doesn’t.”

“Wish we could grab one of the Sisters. The judge or the dean.”

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