Chapter 26 AI And Risk Takers
Julian connected the screen of the small AI detector in his hand to something that looks like a ring on his finger. Any other ordinary person would think it was just a ring but after connecting, it lightened up. The glove still on his hands, he picked the spectacle up carefully and ran it across the screen.
A name reflected on the screen immediately “Astor Rodriguez” Julian muttered it out.
“That’s his name?” Vincent asked, looking around, hands wrapped around the stirring wheel, ready to start driving whenever Julian gave the order.
“Yeah.” He answered as he searched the name up without wasting time. He found him.
He sighed, realizing what he had to do. “This will take up to an hour, Vincs. I’m going to hack him out.”
Vincent nodded. “Got you.”
Julian wasted no time in doing what he had mastered how to do best on the folded screen. Less than forty minutes later, he got directions. Even though Astor’s destination was currently far, nothing could stop him now. A small satisfying dark smile appeared on his handsome face.
“You are a dead man, Astor.”
~
Two hours later at past one a.m, they arrived at the location the AI directed him to. It was a quiet neighborhood.
“This is a house. I was expecting somewhere deserted.” Vincs stated as he looked around from the car window.
Julian was also observing.
The houses were pressed together, the lawns clipped. Vincent cut the engine and glanced at Julian.
“What next?” he asked under his breath.
Julian’s sharp eyes were fixed on the two–story house the AI detector had pinpointed. The small blue light on the ring around his finger blinked faintly — confirmation.
“We go in.” He slid the ring off and pocketed it, straightened his coat, and stepped out of the car. The night air bit at his face.
He walked like he was not touchable. Vincent followed a step behind, scanning the street for movement.
At the gate, Julian knocked once and the metal echoed faintly. No answer. He knocked again.
A few seconds passed. Then a man appeared from the shadow of the compound, thick-shouldered and bleary-eyed, holding a flashlight. His voice carried irritation more than caution as he answered.
“Who’s there? It’s late. What do you want?”
Julian’s gaze stayed purposeful as the gate opened and their eyes met. “I’m looking for a friend named Astor.”
The man frowned. “Astor’s asleep. He’s not expecting any visitor.”
Julian didn’t say anything for a moment. He took one small step closer, adjusted his coat gently, and slid one side open just enough to reveal the black outline of his gun. His voice dropped an inch lower, calm and cutting.
“Then wake him. Now.”
The man froze. The change in his face was instant — irritation vanished, replaced by cold fear. He swallowed hard and nodded quickly. “Y-yeah… yeah, sure, sir.”
Vincent moved closer to him, his tone an intimidating whisper. “You’re going to knock on his door like a good little boy,” he said, his lips curling near the man’s ear. “You’ll call him out here, and if you try to play smart, I’ll put a hole in your head before you even blink. Got that?”
The man’s hands trembled as he nodded. “I—I got it.”
He led them in. The house smelled faintly of tobacco and old perfume. Julian and Vincent stepped into the living room and sat on the couch like kings who were honored with special invites. Vincent’s gun rested on his thigh. Julian’s posture was composed, controlled, his eyes cold as steel.
Moments later, Astor emerged from the hallway, flicking on the light. He was in loose night pants, rubbing his eyes until he saw them- two men dressed in dark coats, sitting comfortably on his couch as if waiting for dessert.
“What the hell…who are you people?” he barked, his voice rough.
Julian rose slowly. His height and calm presence filled the space. “Hello Astor,” he greeted quietly. “You have something that belongs to me. Or rather, to someone I protect. You’re going to lead me to the little boy you kidnapped earlier.”
Astor’s face suddenly twitched in realization. His jaw locked tight. “I don’t know what you are talking…”
Before he could finish, the security man- the same one who had opened the gate, panicked. He pulled a gun from his belt and aimed for Julian.
Vincent’s gun went off before anyone could blink. The guard screamed and dropped, clutching his bleeding leg as his own weapon skidded across the floor.
The silence afterward was deafening. Julian didn’t have to look to know what happened. The security man was stupid enough to wnat to shoot him. Vincent beat him to it.
Astor stumbled back, eyes wide in disbelief. “Jesus Christ—”
His wife came rushing out in a silk robe, hair messy from sleep. The sight of the armed men, their security on the floor with blood pooling around his leg, her husband standing pale, froze her in place.
“Oh my God, please—please don’t hurt us,” she cried, stepping toward Astor.
Julian turned his gun on her, steady and cold. “Stay right there.”
She stopped instantly, shaking, her hand half-lifted in surrender.
Astor’s lips trembled. “Please, don’t…don’t hurt her. I’ll tell you where he is. I’ll take you there myself. Just don’t shoot her.”
Julian tilted his head, studying him. “Good choice.” His voice deadly low. “If you try anything clever, I’ll end this entire house before anyone can dial a number. Do you understand me?”
Astor nodded, sweat sliding down his temple. “Yes, I understand.”
His wife started to sob quietly, clutching her robe tight. “Please don’t kill my husband…please, I beg you.”
Julian finally looked at her, his eyes devoid of softness. “If you call the police, I’ll know,” he said flatly. “And if I know, he dies.”
Her lips parted, trembling, but she nodded. “I won’t. I swear I won’t.”
Vincent nudged Astor forward with the gun barrel. “Let’s go.”
They got outside, and Astor willingly stepped into the car. Any other person would think they were allies. When they settled, Vincent took the wheel. Julian slid into the back seat beside their trembling guide. The gun rested loosely in his lap, the air around him electric.
For a while, there was only the sound of the tires rolling over gravel. Then Julian spoke, his tone almost casual. “Why did you kill the nanny, and who sent you?”
Astor’s mouth opened but no sound came out. He hesitated, glancing between the two men.
Julian’s patience was short-lived. “I hate when people waste my time,” he said softly, cocking the gun beside Astor’s leg. The soft click was enough to get him talking.
Astor flinched. “Okay! Okay, I’ll talk.” His breath came fast. “The nanny…she was going to sell the boy. That’s what she does. She finds smart kids, becomes their nanny, and then…then she sells them to people who pay her. Then pretended like the kids were stolen from her…”
Julian’s jaw tightened. “You’re lying.”
“I’m not!” Astor said quickly. “It wasn’t supposed to go wrong this time. She went behind her boss, tried to sell the boy to my employer for more money. My boss didn’t want her to snitch. He killed her so she wouldn’t talk. I swear, that’s the truth.”
Using special psychological intelligence, Julian studied him in silence — every twitch, every shallow breath, the darting of his eyes. The man was terrified, but not lying. Julian could read deceit like language. This wasn’t it.
Vincent’s voice came from the front, “What’s the next location?”
Astor pointed shakily toward the tablet on the dashboard. “Abandoned building by the old freight yard. That’s where they took him. Please, that’s all I know.”
Julian leaned back, his stare locked on the trembling man beside him.
Vincent pressed harder on the accelerator. The car sped into the dark stretch of road, the city behind them fading into the night.
Astor sat stiff, drenched in sweat, breathing shallowly. Julian turned his face toward the window, the gun still in his hand. His thoughts were already far ahead — calculating what they’d find at that freight yard and how many men he’d have to kill to bring the boy back alive.
It wasn’t long before Vincent pulled up in front of the yard. “We’re here.”
Julian’s jaw clenched. If they were lucky, then Phoenix was close.