Chapter 2 - The Radio Intercept
The harsh static of the police radio pierced the humid Manhattan air, cutting sharply through the urban noise of honking horns and distant sirens. Officer Miller’s hand tightened on Leo’s shoulder before he slowly released the boy, his eyes locked onto his partner, Officer Davis, whose face had gone completely rigid as he listened to the voice coming through the handheld receiver.
"Copy that, precinct," Officer Davis spoke into his shoulder mic, his voice dropping to a low, urgent murmur. "Subject’s son is currently vocalizing details of the asset. Requesting immediate reroute away from public view. Over."
Leo rubbed his shoulder, glaring at the officers with a mix of defiance and rising terror. His light blue polo shirt was damp with sweat, clinging to his chest as he took a protective stance beside his mother’s blue wheelchair.
"What did the radio say?" Leo demanded, his voice cracking slightly. "Who is listening to our channel? Are they coming for us?"
His mother stared straight ahead, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. Her pregnant frame trembled slightly beneath the grey t-shirt, though she refused to meet her son's accusing gaze.
"Leo," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the traffic. "You just sealed our fate with what you said back there. They heard you."
"Who heard me, Mom?" Leo pleaded, dropping to one knee beside the wheelchair to look into her eyes. "Dad’s been gone for three days. The police show up, put you in this chair, make me push you through the streets instead of a hospital, and now you’re acting like we’re running from a ghost. Tell me what is inside this chair!"
Officer Miller stepped between them, his posture defensive. "Kid, get up. We are changing our route right now. We are heading down the subway stairs into the transit tunnels. It’s the only way to avoid the aerial surveillance that just picked up your voice."
"Subway tunnels?" Leo stood up, shaking his head in disbelief. "Are you out of your mind? My mother is nine months pregnant! She can't go down concrete stairs in a wheelchair, and you know it!"
Officer Davis stepped forward, lifting the front casters of the blue wheelchair effortlessly as he motioned toward the descending stairwell entrance marked by a yellow sign.
"She doesn't have a choice," Davis said grimly. "Neither do you. Look across the street."
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Leo slowly turned his head to look across the avenue, his breath catching in his throat as a sleek black sedan pulled abruptly to the curb, its tinted window rolling down to reveal a man holding a pair of high-powered binoculars aimed directly at them.
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