Chapter 227: Escape, Response, To My Place

While Sabin City police and FBI agents set up checkpoints on all roads entering and leaving the city, Gap had already left Sabin City.

He was hidden inside a specially modified oil drum among other drums. The drum had two compartments: the top held the same chemical liquid as the others, while the bottom could fit an adult.

These industrial drums were at least two meters tall and over half a meter in diameter—large enough to fit a person comfortably.

The police and agents did stop the transport vehicle, but it had valid chemical transport permits and cargo manifests, and the driver cooperated fully during inspection, which caused them to be careless.

They searched many drums but found nothing unusual and had to let the vehicle pass.

Once the transport left Sabin City and entered the interstate highway, it quickly vanished from sight. Gap had successfully evaded the police, but he did not feel relieved—he knew the situation was far worse than expected.

Liston’s conflicts with the governor and mayor had caused their stronghold in Sabin City to collapse completely. Gap had now become a dangerous liability.

He held key secrets about Liston’s altered ledgers. If he fell into the investigators’ hands, he could easily expose the hidden truths in those records.

Would President Neo let such an important figure go free?

Or could Gap really escape abroad?

The long journey and the risks of crossing borders meant any mistake could be fatal.

Even if he managed to cross the border, as an illegal immigrant in a foreign country, he could die unnoticed on the streets.

Gap already began to regret his decision—a common habit among highly educated people who tend to overthink.

Some say thinking is the biggest obstacle to action. That may or may not be true, but overthinking often makes things harder for oneself. Reality doesn’t always follow the plans we make.

As difficulties mount, despair grows. Regret is natural.

The truck carrying the oil drums stopped at a motel on the highway. Several workers waiting there unloaded some drums, including the one hiding Gap.

After unloading, the workers left with the truck. Everything looked normal—no one suspected one drum was different.

Soon, in a daze, Gap felt the drum roll and then be laid down. Metal scraping sounds came from below—they were opening the drum!

He was temporarily confined to a second-floor motel room, watched by guards. They claimed to be escorting him to flee abroad, but to Gap, they seemed more like captors.

Unease grew inside him. He searched every drawer but found no useful tools or even a single screw—the room had been thoroughly cleaned beforehand.

Staring blankly at the bed, Gap silently removed his glasses, popped a lens out of its frame, placed it convex-side up on the floor, and gently stepped on it.

Minutes later, an insomniac Neo was trying to force sleep with alcohol when a ringing phone shattered his efforts.

He picked up the phone after it rang twice.

“It’s me…”

His voice was deep and steady, unaffected by recent events. He hoped everyone remained calm like him, without panic or weakness.

But he was destined to be disappointed. Seconds later, his suppressed anger erupted.

“You useless fools!”

“You worthless bastards, do you understand?”

“You’re trash!”

“Dogs are more useful—they at least bite. You can’t do anything right!”

He kicked over a finely crafted telephone stand—a one-foot square, about four feet tall, wooden and ornate, worth about five or six hundred Sol.

The telephone fell and went silent.

Neo continued venting his rage, smashing the receiver repeatedly as if trying to hang it up but only knocking it down again and again.

Finally, he threw the phone to the ground with full force, destroying the expensive device.

Just then, another phone rang elsewhere in the hall. Neo glared at it and walked quickly to answer.

As he did, a woman’s shadow appeared on the second-floor corridor, asking, “What happened, dear? I heard noises.”

Neo’s fierce expression softened. He calmed himself and said, “Nothing. Something fell. The maid will handle it.”

The shadow disappeared. Neo put the receiver to his ear, listening as the woman apologized for her foolishness.

Gap had escaped under heavy guard. The guards said he somehow obtained sharp objects and fled while they were dozing.

One guard found him but was slashed in the face, and Gap succeeded in escaping.

All because the guards were careless—they didn’t believe a nerd like him could escape or have the courage to try.

After a pause, Neo looked at his bleeding left hand, his voice growing cold: “I don’t want to see him again, or hear anything about him. Understand?”

After hanging up, Neo called the maid to dress his wound, then later phoned a friend.

“It’s time for those who owe him to pay their debts.”

The next morning, Lynch received a call from Vera asking him to come over.

Lynch didn’t refuse. Vera had been responsible and thorough managing his accounts, so he trusted her more than any ambitious men.

At Vera’s home, Lynch noticed people watching the place—not police or agents, but unofficial.

How did he know? Everyone in the federal system could easily tell cops, agents, and criminals apart.

Inside, Lynch sensed something was off. Given Gap’s disappearance, police should treat this place as critical—if not monitor it 24/7, then at least station officers here.

If Gap suddenly returned, they could capture him immediately. But now, there were no police around.

Considering the people outside, some things had already changed.

After sitting down, Vera spoke of her worries. “Until this morning, police were guarding here, but just a while ago, they all suddenly left. And there are more people outside now. I’m concerned.”

“Where’s your mother?” Lynch looked around, remembering Vera’s mother had been staying here to help take care of her.

“She went back to care for the children…”

It’s common for both parents to work. Sometimes children go to daycare or preschool, but more often they’re cared for by grandparents. Paid caregivers never match the care of family.

The elderly woman had been here for days, and Vera’s father was nearly at his wit’s end, so he sent her back first.

Now Vera was alone in the house. Feeling uneasy was natural; anyone would feel that way in this situation.

Lynch thought for a moment and stood up. He extended his hand. “If you don’t mind, you can stay at my place for a few days.”

The offer was sudden, but Vera had few options.

Go to her parents? What if the children were put in danger?

Go to her siblings? They had their own families and weren’t involved.

In the Baylor Federation, family ties were often less close than friendships. Friends interacted frequently, while family rarely gathered except for a few sparse holidays.

Go to Gap’s parents or siblings?

Gap wasn’t local; he was from out of town and only settled in Sabin City through the Liston Group’s employment.

Vera, recently a semi-housewife with little social circle, had few choices. Lynch was one of the few options.

Vera quickly agreed. Maybe being with Lynch would make her feel safer. After packing, she left with Lynch’s car. Jack, who was driving, soon noticed someone following them and informed Lynch.

Sitting in the back seat, Lynch felt Vera tense beside him. She kept looking back and held his hand tightly.