Badge of the Death Game

Chapter 051

By eight in the morning, the sky over Grayhaven City had gone from deep grey to pale gold, and the front entrance of the Goldport Police Department was already busy with the kind of activity that came with powerful people arriving in expensive cars.

Chief Tucker stood at the top of the steps in full uniform, his broad face arranged into an expression of dignified professionalism. He extended a hand to Graham Wilson with the practiced warmth of a man who had learned long ago that certain meetings required a particular kind of performance.

"On behalf of the department and the city, I want to express our deepest appreciation for Voss Capital's continued interest in Grayhaven City and the Sunvale Republic," he said. "The Mayor asked me personally to pass along his regards."

Wilson accepted the handshake with a pleasant smile. "You're too kind, Chief Tucker. The Mayor was actually just telling me on the phone that you're one of the most principled and perceptive officers in the city. Seeing you in person, I'd have to agree."

Chief Tucker laughed, a full, rolling sound that came easily. "The Mayor has always had a gift for getting straight to the point."

While they were still exchanging pleasantries, two officers came through the main doors with Soren and Cody in tow. Wilson gave them both a quick, practiced look, checking for injuries the way a man does when he already knows the answer but wants to confirm it anyway. Satisfied, he turned back to Chief Tucker with the same easy smile.

"Well, since Mr. Scott's security personnel appear to be in good health, I think we'll be on our way."

"Of course, of course." Chief Tucker waved a generous hand, as though releasing them was the most natural thing in the world. "Mr. Scott's men were clearly caught up in last night's incident through no fault of their own. Now that the facts have been established, there's no reason to detain them any further."

He stepped forward and shook hands with both Soren and Cody in turn, his expression shifting into something that managed to look genuinely contrite. "I want to personally apologize for the inconvenience. What you went through last night was extraordinary, and I'm glad you both came out of it in one piece. Mr. Scott clearly keeps exceptional people around him. You've more than earned that reputation."

Cody had absolutely no idea what was happening. He nodded along with the expression of someone trying very hard not to look confused.

Soren had already worked out the broad shape of it. He glanced past Chief Tucker at Wilson, who gave him a small, confirming nod. Soren turned back to the chief with the look of a man who had narrowly survived something terrible and was grateful for the competent response of local law enforcement.

"We're just relieved it's over," he said. "Honestly, Chief Tucker, knowing you were on the scene last night made all the difference. Grayhaven City is lucky to have you."

Another round of laughter, another exchange of handshakes, and then Soren and Cody followed Wilson down the steps and into the waiting car.

The door had barely closed before Wilson let out a long breath and leaned back against the seat. "You really should have called me last night," he said, his tone landing somewhere between reproach and exhaustion. "You wouldn't have spent half the night in a cell, and I wouldn't have had to track down lawyers before sunrise. Do you have any idea how difficult that is?"

Soren didn't have a clean answer for that. "It happened fast," he said.

Wilson sighed, then nodded. "It did. And I know that. The Voss family went too far, and if you hadn't stepped in when you did, I wouldn't be sitting here having this conversation." He paused, staring at the city passing outside the window. "I owe you that much to say plainly."

Soren wasn't entirely sure what version of events Hank had given Wilson, but whatever it was, it had clearly framed the previous night as something done in Wilson's defense. That wasn't entirely wrong. The chain of events had started with the extraction from the Harborview Hotel parking lot, and none of what followed would have happened without that. It was a version of the truth that was easy enough to accept.

He turned to look out his own window. The morning streets of Grayhaven City moved past, food vendors setting up their carts, motorcycles weaving through early traffic, the city resuming its ordinary rhythms as though the previous night had been someone else's problem entirely.

He'd expected, walking into that cell, that getting out would involve considerably more pain. No interrogation, no identity check, no formal inquiry into how two people had managed to walk out of a building where dozens of others hadn't. The chief of police had personally vouched for them, shaken their hands, and sent them on their way. A case involving dozens of deaths, wrapped up and filed away before the city had finished its morning coffee.

The strangeness of it sat with him quietly.

Then Wilson's phone rang. Wilson glanced at the screen and his posture changed, the easy slouch straightening into something more attentive. He answered in English, his voice taking on a respectful, careful quality. "Good morning, sir..."

He listened for a moment, then looked over at Soren. "He'd like to speak with you." He held the phone out.

"Who is this?" Soren asked.

Wilson seemed to think he'd forgotten. "Mr. Scott. Scott Voss, the chairman of Voss Capital. He's the one who called the Mayor this morning and told him you were his personal security detail. That's why we got you out so quickly."

Soren took the phone and switched to English. "Mr. Scott. This is Soren. Thank you for what you did for us this morning."

The voice on the other end was warm and direct, the kind of voice that belonged to someone who had spent decades in rooms where decisions were made and had long since stopped needing to perform confidence. "Soren. I've seen the footage from last night. You're a capable man. I know Mr. Dalton was the one whose name is on the contract, but I think we both understand who was actually running things. So let me say it plainly: thank you. Wilson has been with me for a long time. Without him, Voss Capital doesn't exist in the form it does today."

"You don't need to thank me," Soren said. "We were there to meet with Mr. Wilson in the first place. When we saw he was in trouble, stepping in was the right thing to do."

A short laugh came through the speaker, genuine and unhurried. "I appreciate that. And since you seem to be the kind of man who does the right thing when it matters, I'm going to hold you to it. I'll be arriving in Sunvale soon, and I've already told the Mayor that you're my personal security. I'm a man who dislikes being made a liar. I hope that's not going to be a problem."

The meaning was clear and left no room for ambiguity. Soren didn't make him wait. "You have my word. Your time in Sunvale will go smoothly."

He handed the phone back to Wilson, who exchanged a few more words before ending the call. Then Wilson reached into the document case beside him and produced a contract, the pages still carrying the faint smell of fresh ink, clearly printed within the last few hours.

"Since you've accepted Mr. Scott's invitation, you should look this over," Wilson said, passing it across. "This is a separate agreement from Palisade Security's contract. It covers you and your team directly."

Soren took it and flipped through the pages. The terms were straightforward. For the duration of Scott Voss's visit to Sunvale, Soren and his team would be responsible for the chairman's personal protection. The flat-rate fee for the full team was two hundred thousand dollars per day, with additional combat bonuses applicable if the situation required it. Equipment could be sourced from their own inventory or drawn from Scott's private security team's supply. That team, Soren noted, consisted of four people whose profiles were not included in the contract. Anyone providing long-term close protection for a man like Scott Voss was not going to be an amateur, but the specifics would have to wait.

Before he could finish reading, he looked up. "Where are Hank and the others? How is Mark?"

"Mr. Dalton is at the Kingfisher Medical Center," Wilson said. "He's out of immediate danger. The injuries were serious, but he's stable and recovery is a matter of time. Mr. Mercer and the others are with him now."

Soren nodded and looked back down at the contract. Across from him, Cody was watching quietly, waiting.

Soren glanced over at him.

Cody gave a small nod. "Whatever you decide. I'm with you."

Soren accepted the pen Wilson offered and signed his name at the bottom of the last page.

Wilson tucked the contract away and settled back with a satisfied expression. "Good. My business in Grayhaven City is wrapped up, so we'll head to the airport first. Once I'm through departures, the driver will take you straight to the hospital." He extended a hand. "Until next time, Soren."

Soren shook it. "Until next time, Wilson. Safe travels."