Chapter 10 - THE PLAYBOOK
The orange glow of the fireplace flickered across four determined faces inside the cabin.
"She called a live press conference at 7:30 AM outside the central courthouse," Julian explained.
"She is going to announce that Maya has gone missing due to severe psychiatric illness."
"She wants to build a public narrative so the judge signs the custody papers without hesitation."
"Public sympathy," Richard said, disgust evident in his tone.
"She plays the grieving grandmother whose unstable daughter ran away."
"Exactly," Julian nodded. "And once she has public support, no police chief will dare question her."
Jax leaned over the table, examining a map of the city central plaza.
"The plaza will be packed with media, news vans, and her private security," Jax pointed out.
"If Richard and Maya walk in through the front, her guards will drag them away before they reach the microphones."
"They won't expect us to come from inside the building," Richard stated, pointing at the map.
"There is an underground maintenance tunnel connecting the city library to the courthouse plaza."
"I helped design the city's utility layout twenty years ago," Richard revealed.
"The old entrance under the library basement is still operational."
Maya stood up from the couch, holding her stomach, her posture straightening with sudden resolve.
"I'm going with you," Maya declared firmly.
"Maya, no, it's too dangerous for the baby," Richard protested immediately.
"I have to be there, Dad!" Maya insisted, her voice ringing with newfound strength.
"She tried to erase my life and steal my child."
"The media needs to see me standing on my own two feet, healthy and clear-minded."
"She's right," Jax agreed, looking at Maya with deep respect.
"Her presence ruins Victoria's entire story in five seconds."
"What about Julian?" Jax asked, turning his sharp gaze toward the younger man.
"I will drive Mom's lead car to the plaza," Julian offered without hesitation.
"I can distract her security chief while you bring Maya up through the tunnel exit."
Richard put a hand on Julian's shoulder, looking into his eyes.
"If you do this, Julian, she will destroy you too," Richard warned him gently.
"She already destroyed me, Dad," Julian replied with a sad, bitter smile.
"I spent my whole life pleasing a monster."
"It's time I did something right."
Jax pulled out three heavy encrypted radios from his duffel bag and tossed them onto the table.
May you like
"Set your channels to frequency seven," Jax instructed.
"We move in two hours, right before dawn."
