led outside the wrought-iron gates of t
e's car. The neighborhood was dead silent, the sprawling
dow and pressed the interco
ned. It was Leland Fletcher, the estate's head butl
nd. Miss Eloise is ho
erguson have retired for the night. The main gate's electronic system is down for maintenance. Yo
he steering wheel. "You son of a bitch, you kn
She felt a cold, clinical anticipation. She pressed a bu
e intercom. She simply
astair Kingston stepped out. His heavy boots crunched against the
com pillar. He didn't press the button. He looked straight
gold Secret Service badge, and slammed it
his voice echoing loudly in the quiet street. "Open this gate in five seconds, or
his coffee mug. It shattered on the floo
d steel bumpers slamming directly into the wrought-iron gates with a deafening metallic screech. The vehicles didn't back down; their engines roarcom system, low and lethally calm. "Any further delay will be classified as a
tive than any siren. Dogs in neighboring estates began to howl. Floodlights a
sprinted out of their booths, waving their hands frantically,
es groaned and began to sl
eir wake. The red and blue lights continued to flash silently, painting the dr
ad. The heavy tires chewed up the pristine gravel of the main
doors of the m
Ferguson clutched her pearls, her face pale. Cortez, Eloise's older brother, stood behind them, looking furious. Peeking
cus roared, his voice cracking. "Wh
agents stepped out, their hands resting on their belts, their s
's car. He opened the rea
ood tall, ignoring the pain in her ankle, and looked up at her f
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