On the other side of town.

Leopold, with Adam in tow, strolled through the labyrinthine streets of Rivenwood's largest urban village.

Twisting alleys had Leopold nursing a headache. Without his trusty GPS, he half-expected Adam to lead him into an unfamiliar alleyway for a swift, unseen dispatch.

"When are we getting there?" Thomas surveyed the surrounding high-rises, nearly indistinguishable from one another.

Above, a tangle of clotheslines and electric wires-a fire trap if there ever was one.

And to think, someone working for the Abernathy family lived in such a place? Quite the understatement.

Adam led the way, occasionally glancing back to ensure Leopold and Thomas's group kept pace. "Just up ahead. This place, it's a maze. Looks like there are many ways through, but most are dead ends. Without a local guide, it's easy to get lost."

Leopold noted, "I heard you guys have dorms. Why does Keith choose to live here?"

A hint of frustration crossed Adam's face. "Who knows what goes through his mind? An orphan, yet he insists on living amidst this chaos. I've offered him a dorm room multiple times, but he always refuses, claiming he needs his freedom."

"Talking about the intern salary not even hitting eight grand, in a place as pricey as Rivenwood, even these rundown flats cost a couple grand a month. Half his salary gone just on rent, not to mention commuting and living expenses. Barely saves anything by month's end."

Adam had more to say about Keith. "And that kid keeps dreaming about getting married. With his spending habits, which girl would even consider?"

Thomas

an excuse for avoiding too close a contact with Abernathy family members in the dorms. Their conversation meandered, extracting even Keith's police academy

they

Rivenwood, well past midnight.

rest of the building was shrouded in darkness, impossible to tell

had only recently

left two men

floor, they faced a metal door covered in flyers,

Thomas's watchful eyes, raised his hand to knock but was stopped by Leopold. "Let's

key, stepped forward. "I owe you one, huh? Dragged out in the middle of the night for

lighthearted, his

The door creaked open.

for anything, entered first. "See it as an opportunity to shine. Just stay behind me;

Zzzap...

electric current

then heard a click.

didn't you

Silence fell.

trying not to laugh, caught Leopold's embarrassed glance. For a moment, Leopold wished the earth would swallow him

Leopold quickly shifted blame to Thomas's hasty actions.

retorted, "Does

there be no one... Keith

he took in the room. No

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