Chapter 16 - Ambush at the Bywater
The rain had returned with a vengeance, drumming a frantic rhythm against the metal roof of the armored SUV.
Streetlights reflected in oily puddles as the vehicle pulled up outside the familiar brick apartment building in the Bywater.
"Stay inside the vehicle until we secure the perimeter, Miss Fay," Silvano instructed, drawing his heavy automatic pistol from his shoulder holster.
Two guards stepped out into the pouring rain, checking the alleyways and the entrance to the building.
"All clear, Lieutenant," one of the guards radioed.
Silvano opened Fay’s door and helped her out, his umbrella shielding her from the deluge.
They climbed the three flights of stairs quickly.
Inside apartment 3B, the air felt strangely hollow.
Fay moved through the small rooms, packing a single duffel bag with Josie's clothes, the beloved worn stuffed rabbit, and the stack of paper boats from the windowsill.
She slipped an envelope containing five thousand dollars—money Rafferty had insisted on providing—under Mrs. Gable’s door downstairs to secure the old woman's rent for the next year.
"We need to move, Miss Fay," Silvano said, checking his watch by the front door.
"The boss doesn't like you being away from the hospital this long."
"I'm ready," Fay said, zipping the duffel bag.
They descended the stairs.
The moment Silvano pushed open the ground-floor exit door leading to the alley, chaos erupted.
A heavy delivery truck, running without headlights, slammed violently into the side of the Cain security SUV, pinning it against the brick wall with a deafening screech of crushing metal.
Before the guards could recover, smoke grenades were hurled into the narrow alleyway, filling the air with blinding, choking gray fog.
Gunfire cracked through the rain.
Silvano instantly shoved Fay behind the heavy iron doorframe, raising his weapon and firing three controlled bursts into the smoke.
"Ambush!
Fall back inside!" Silvano roared, his radio crackling as he screamed for reinforcements.
A figure materialized from the shadows behind them—Julian Mercer.
He had bypassed the front alley entirely, scaling the rusted fire escape and dropping through the second-story hallway window.
Mercer struck Silvano across the back of the neck with the heavy steel barrel of a revolver.
The veteran lieutenant collapsed against the wall, stunned, blood pouring from his scalp.
Fay screamed, dropping her duffel bag and backing away toward the stairs.
Mercer lunged forward, grabbing her roughly by the arm and clamping a chemical-soaked rag over her mouth and nose.
Fay fought with terrifying ferocity, clawing at his face, kicking his shins with all the strength in her healing legs.
She managed to tear the rag away for half a second.
"Josie!" Fay screamed into the rain-soaked stairwell.
May you like
Then the chloroform overwhelmed her senses.
The world tilted, spun into darkness, and her eyes closed as Mercer slung her limp body over his shoulder and vanished into the smoke-filled alley.
