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Back The Neighborhood Save as PDF
Chapters (59)
  1. Part I Reconnaissance
  2. Chapter One
  3. Chapter Two
  4. Chapter Three
  5. Part II Incursion
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Part III Under Siege
  14. Chapter Eleven
  15. Chapter Twelve
  16. Chapter Thirteen
  17. Part IV Course Correction
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Part V Balance of Power
  20. Chapter Fifteen
  21. Chapter Sixteen
  22. Chapter Seventeen
  23. Chapter Eighteen
  24. Chapter Nineteen
  25. Chapter Twenty
  26. Chapter Twenty-One
  27. Chapter Twenty-Two
  28. Chapter Twenty-Three
  29. Chapter Twenty-Four
  30. Chapter Twenty-Five
  31. Chapter Twenty-Six
  32. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  33. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  34. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  35. Part VI Spy versus Spy
  36. Chapter Thirty
  37. Chapter Thirty-One
  38. Chapter Thirty-Two
  39. Chapter Thirty-Three
  40. Part VII Winds of War and Flame
  41. Chapter Thirty-Four
  42. Chapter Thirty-Five
  43. Chapter Thirty-Six
  44. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  45. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  46. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  47. Chapter Forty
  48. Chapter Forty-One
  49. Part VIII Strong to the Finish
  50. Chapter Forty-Two
  51. Chapter Forty-Three
  52. Part IX Spy Games
  53. Chapter Forty-Four
  54. Chapter Forty-Five
  55. Chapter Forty-Six
  56. Part X What Goes Around
  57. Chapter Forty-Seven
  58. Chapter Forty-Eight
  59. About the Author

Zack kept moving, wondering when Barrett Connolly would reach out again. As if the radio were reading his brainwaves, a voice that Zack Chambers prayed he’d never hear again spoke. He stopped abruptly and nearly tripped over his own feet as Griffin Huntsmen, his former team leader and a certifiable sociopath, whispered not-so-sweet nothings to Brandon Harper.

“Deputy Director—or should I just say Mr. Brandon Harper—how are you this fine evening? I believe you have something that belongs to me. You know what? Before we go any further, tonight is no night for formalities. I think I’ll just call you ‘boss’ for old times’ sake. You have a lovely neighborhood, and unless you do exactly what I say, it’s all about to burn.”

Zack’s blood ran cold because he knew in that instant that Griffin Huntsmen would do exactly what he said he would, even if it meant killing every last resident of Hidden Refuge.

Zack changed directions completely and stepped off the path into the woods toward Founder’s Circle. There was enough ambient light to guide him. He’d moved through much thicker environments while training in Virginia. All that mattered was reaching the pavilion. With that evil monster on the board, your chances of survival just dropped, my friend. As good as you are, that lunatic is better. And then, as an afterthought: Thanks for the pep talk, Freud.

“Boss, did you hear me? Or do I need to make my point by executing a hostage? I won’t ask again. You have until the count of three, and then some unfortunate soul gets removed from this mortal coil. Don’t make me do it.” A brief pause, followed by, “Okay, then. Here we go. One . . .”

“I hear you, Griffin. Don’t kill anyone. I hear you loud and clear.” There was an audible sigh, and Zack imagined what was running through Brandon’s mind, as he thought the same thing. How the hell are we going to get out of this?

As Zack moved back into the lion’s den, he listened intently to the exchange unfold on the push-to-talk radios.

“There you are,” Griffin said, emphasizing each word like a southern gentleman greeting an old friend. “The ironic part is that I didn’t know you lived here, which I have to say, makes me wonder how and why you came into possession of that which I seek.”

* * *

Sitting at his kitchen table, Brandon loathed the quirky mannerism and organizational structure of Griffin’s phrasing. He talked like someone trying to elevate his own intelligence through clever sentence construction. Brandon had no patience for it.