One Hundred and eighty two

CHAPTER 182

Nicholas frowned for a few moments. A question popped into his head. Why did he just realize that Hendrick's statement was too brief to explain the chronology of Ace's escape from prison?

The man pulled back, Nicholas letting his back which was stiff from the workload lean back. The top of the chair in the leader's room was indeed different from his room when he was a detective. Nicholas' eyes shifted to another direction, he tried to avoid interacting with Hendrick and said, "well, you can leave this room."

Hendrick's one eyebrow raised, he was taken aback. But finally, the big man got up from his chair anyway. He nodded politely, then said, "Sure, Chief."

Hendrick walked out of Nicholas' room feeling confused. He stared at the door beside him for a while, wondering if perhaps Nicholas was keeping something from him. But Hendrick eventually kept walking, back to his desk.

From inside, Nicholas could see Hendrick's movement away from his room. Nicholas' room had a sizable glass window, so he could peek through it. After making sure Hendrick was sitting in his room, Nicholas sent a message to Noel, and got up from his chair to go home first.

But Nicholas didn't actually go home. Instead, he sat waiting for Noel in his car. The man's brown eyes scanned his surroundings warily. And after a few minutes of waiting, he could see Noel running towards him. Nicholas had already moved his car from the police station parking lot, he took it outside and parked it a little further away from his workplace.

The car door opened, revealing a head-tilted Noel. "What's wrong with you, Nick?"

"You need to get on, come on!"

Nicholas was still looking around with a wary gaze, while he urged Noel to get into his car immediately. The car sped up, after Noel fastened the seatbelt. Noel's eyes also looked around. The entire city was already showered with snow and the piercing night air only made the situation worse.

"I want to go home, Nick."

"I'll drive you," Nicholas said without taking his eyes off the wheel.

Noel looked at Nicholas in surprise. He furrowed his brow and crossed his arms over his chest. "This is impossible. You didn't drive me home. What's your plan, hm?"

"We're going to prison."

Instead of understanding what Nicholas wanted, Noel became even more confused. He massaged his head, then looked out the window. "It looks like I really can't enjoy my mom's gingerbread cookies this Christmas."

"You can. I'll drive you home after we check out the prison. I won't let you miss your mom's cookies that are always full of chocochips. I miss your mom's cookies anyway."

Noel looked at Nicholas, he raised an eyebrow. His face looked very curious. "What are you going to do there, Nick? Hendrick is already in charge of security there, what are we going to do?"

"I'm going to find out if Hendrick is really keeping the prison safe properly or not."

Noel's brows furrowed deeply, his eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You... don't trust Hendrick?"

"We were too busy with the murder case that happened soon, I didn't realize that the chronology Hendrick told us was too short. Ace couldn't have gotten out of prison that easily." Nicholas glanced at Noel, then back at the New York City streets in front of him. The snow made it necessary for Nicholas to clean the glass every time. "I want to know where Hendrick was when Ace escaped from prison."

"Oh my! Do you think Hendrick is a traitor?"

Nicholas shrugged, "I just think it's impossible to get out of prison easily. Aside from the help of a disguise, there must have been a senior who helped him escape. And, I suspect Hendrick."

There was a pause, Noel seemed to consider Nicholas' words. "So, what's your plan?"

Nicholas navigated the snow-covered streets of New York City, the tension palpable in the car. Noel's gaze was fixed on Nicholas, contemplating the gravity of the situation. As they approached the prison, a sense of anticipation hung in the air.

"I need you to keep an eye on Hendrick, Noel," Nicholas said, his voice low and intense. "I'm going to try to dig deeper into the prison's security protocols. Something is not right."

Noel nodded, understanding the seriousness of this mission. They parked the car some distance away from the prison entrance, the night concealing their presence. The cold wind whistled, carrying the scent of snow and mystery.

As they quietly approached the prison, Nicholas wore a dark jacket and hat, trying to blend into the surroundings. On the other hand, Noel looked inconspicuous, but he followed Nicholas closely.

The exterior of the prison was very quiet, except for the occasional sound of the wind whistling. Nicholas, relying on his detective instincts, began to assess the surroundings. His keen eyes scanned for any irregularities in the security measures.

Noel whispered, "Nick, this is risky. If Hendrick catches us, we'll be in big trouble. He'll misunderstand, and this team will face a difficult time. You don't want Hendrick off the case because you suspect him, do you?"

"I know, but we have to find out," Nicholas replied, his resolve unwavering. He put on a confident face. "After all, I'm the boss. I'll fire him if he's incompetent. I won't let anyone stab me in the back. Let's go!"

They reached the guardrail, and Nicholas crouched down, examining the ground. There, he found fresh footprints that led to a secluded area. Following the trail, they found a hidden entrance that seemed untouched by routine patrols.

"This is it," Nicholas muttered, exchanging a determined look with Noel. Nodding his head, he continued, "Let's see where this leads."

As they went deeper into the clandestine hallways of the prison, they found a series of locked doors. Nicholas skillfully opened the locks, revealing a labyrinthine network beneath the facility. The air grew colder, and the oppressive silence heightened their senses.

Eventually, they found a room with a surveillance monitor. Nicholas examined the footage, his eyes widening as he found a gap in the timeline - the moment the camera went dark.

"Hendrick has manipulated the security footage," Nicholas whispered, his jaw clenched. "Ace didn't escape on his own; someone inside helped him. And Hendrick covered it up."

Noel's eyes widened in disbelief, his realization beginning to dawn. "So, what now, Nick?"

"We expose Hendrick," Nicholas stated, determination in his gaze. "But we need solid evidence. Let's gather information, find out who else might be involved, and bring them to justice."