HUMAN

Chapter 38 - Message Sent!

21:00

Sol turned up the radio. The buzz and commotion from the commentary of a football match filled the silence inside the cabin. The smell of petrichor seeped into the vehicle as he turns on the wipers. He shoved his hands deeper into his pocket. Would have been nicer if the heater actually worked.

He was tasked to keep an eye on Mr. Becker, the odd one out of the higher ups that Frank couldn't pin him on a category compared to the rest of the leaders.

It's the first time that Sol had agreed on becoming a part of his client's dirty job without taking care of the law side. After all, he owed Frank and Eve a lot, and this was one of the few ways he could think of to pay for that.

Although Sol admitted that he's already bored just staring at a lone vehicle underneath a streetlamp. He'd wished that Frank would've given him a more intense role in this operation.

The hazards from the vehicle he was stalking flashed and was followed by a beep that echoed in the empty parking lot.

"It's go time." Sol exhaled and gripped the steering wheel. Mr. Becker's vehicle exits the staff parking and turned left into the freeway. Sol switched on the lights and trailed behind just enough to keep him in sight. The rain blitz pass them, forcing Sol to lean in towards the windshield just so he could keep track of those tail lights.

"I'm behind Mr. Becker right now. How's it going for you guys?" Sol called Pennie. "It's going smoothly so far, all according to plan. I'll update you after I get Vincent out of this place." Pennie said. "You got it. I'll do the same once I'm done doing my part." He ends the call.

Good fortune must be on Sol's side. Mr. Becker had taken a detour that leads into the mountains where they'll stay on the same road for about an hour. And this way also leads to the town of Rosehill Summits.

If he can get him to pull over soon to have a "chat". He might get some valuable information that could uncover what's happening behind the scenes. Frank figured that if he gave him a bit of a squeeze he'll give in some things worth taking down.

All he needs to do is to wait until they reach the deeper areas of the mountains where cellular data won't even reach them.

Then Sol's hair on the back of his neck stood up. Rubbing it, he turns up the radio.

'Why should I be worried in the first place? They got this. I'll get out of this too soon enough and tomorrow it will all be over.' Sol thought.

He exhaled sharply once more. There's a strange feeling that he wants to ignore something, but he simply couldn't.

Despite how sketchy Frank's plans sounded, he knows that Frank has meticulously calculated these plans for hours. Should things go awry, there's a plan B, C, and D. Always.

Except this one.

Sol suddenly remembered something that Frank has added after he gave a debrief of what will happen; "all of this will work soundly if the unknown variables do not outweigh the known variables."

"Not even enough for Vincent to bat an eye at the distraction and continue on with what he's tasked. But I will be honest, and open to everyone here. This may be the only time where unknown variables outweigh the known by tenfold."

"Should you feel that your life is in imminent danger. Abandon at all cost."

It sent shivers down Sol's spine.

He grits his teeth and shoved that thought in the back of his mind. Then slammed on the brakes as he watches Mr. Becker's vehicle flip on its side and crash into the cliff face on the side of the road. More headlights appear as armored vehicles emerged from behind the trees.