That one phone call changed everything.Franklin instantly remembered the conversation he had had with his sister last night.“I can’t believe it. Are you sure it wasn’t just a prank call?” he asked, still too surprised to trust what he was hearing.“It wasn’t a prank call. I verified everything. It was Xavier Cortez himself.”“And you’re sure this isn’t a trick? What if he’s trying to cause trouble by luring your men into a trap?”“That’s highly unlikely,” the chief of police replied. “He’s asked the media to be present during his surrender. All the local news channels are going to be there.”Franklin couldn’t believe how easily Xavier had changed his mind and decided to surrender, and his thoughts kept going back to the conversation with his sister.For the present, he thought it really was an answer to her prayers, but his skeptical mind still tingled with suspicion.“There is one more thing,” the police chief said with some hesitation.“What?”“Xavier asked you to be present durin

This little conversation at the coffee shop, where nothing too deep or meaningful was discussed, wasn’t in vain.Enrico’s first private interaction with Ginny allowed him to change from a stranger she pitied into an actual friend she truly cared about.While Enrico did genuinely enjoy her company, his main intention was to use her as leverage against Governor Morton.That night, Ginny returned to her mansion almost at supper time.Governor Morton would have enquired about where she had gone, but he was in such a good mood that he dismissed all questions, naturally deducing she had just spent the evening at the church.“Ginny, oh dear Ginny! Your prayers have been answered,” he exclaimed, pouring himself a drink of the most expensive red wine at his disposal. “Xavier Cortez surrendered without any fuss, and now I can finally sweep away the rest of the Boheco Cartel. The people of Nuevo Durango will always remember me as their savior!”“It’s all the Lord’s will,” Ginny replied submissiv

Alex left with Xavier’s wife and kids under his protection, while Enrico stayed back.But an hour after Alex had left, Enrico also moved to a new location.It was a humble farmhouse far away from the heart of the city, and here he was completely cut off from the rest of Ivera.Meanwhile, Detective Montoya had already started making inroads into the investigation.Even though the cellphone trail was a bust, he had gotten his hands on the city’s traffic cam footage and conducted on-field enquiries around all possible hideout locations.His days of hard work had finally led him to the safehouse on Ashville Avenue.This was the place where Alex had initially taken Xavier and his family after the attack on the mansion.Accompanied by a squad of special agents, Detective Montoya surrounded the safehouse from all sides and asked his spotters on the rooftops to stay on high alert.“I am the location. It’s a small house on Ashville Avenue,” Detective Montoya relayed directly to the Governor. “

Deep down, Enrico knew it wasn’t the smartest choice to step out of his secluded hideout while the situation was so tense.But he wasn’t listening to his mind anymore.Ginny had grown on him over the past few days and gradually become an integral part of his life.Thus, even though there were several risks involved, Enrico decided to take the chance.Early the next morning, Enrico put on a hooded jacket and jumped on his bike.He didn’t even bother informing Alex or any of his close ones.Without telling anyone where he was going, he made his way to Crystal Bower Park just to meet with Ginny.Right at the stroke of seven, Ginny Morton arrived at the park in a private cab.She looked around cautiously before making her way inside.Enrico grabbed her hand while she was still distracted and pulled her into a secluded part of the park, surrounded by bushes.“Argh!”“It’s me!”Enrico’s voice calmed her, and she stopped her urge to scream.“I am sorry for grabbing you like this. I just can’

Enrico returned to his farmhouse hideout with the list in his pocket.There were three names: Martha Wilson, Dorris Green, and Alfred Walsh.He had never met any of them, and didn’t even remember Xavier ever mentioning their names.Yet, here he was stuck with them.Gilford Holland had already done his part, and now it was up to Enrico to get to these three witnesses and find a way to get them off the case or change their testimonies.The first name on the list was Martha Wilson, currently under zero protection. She was living in Hannington with her elder daughter and son-in-law in a rented house on 39th Chatterton Avenue.As Enrico was wondering how he was supposed to deal with the first witness, his phone rang.“Have you checked the names?” Alex asked from the other side.“I did. But I have no idea what to do with them. My only job for the cartel was maintaining accounts and overseeing high-level transactions,” Enrico replied. “I am not a killer…or some thug with a habit of intimidat