Page 119 of Statler

Which meant Flazer would most assuredly be waiting for Eliza to confront him.

Statler hoped he was wrong, and that Eliza would be arriving to an empty house, but his gut said otherwise.

“You want me to take charge of the factory operation?” Mason returned without missing a beat.

“I’d appreciate it,” Statler said. “Everything is set. All our people know their roles and what they need to do. Which means it’ll probably be a simple strike for you.”

Mason snorted. “No raid is ever simple, but we’ll be fine. Don’t give us a second thought. Just go. Make sure your woman is safe.”

“I plan on it,” Statler said, wishing Mason good luck before he hung up.

Statler pressed his foot more aggressively on the peddle, unable to stop the wry thought that filled his brain.

Was love always this difficult?

His sister Petula had gone through hell to get her happily ever after, and now, here he was, chasing after the woman he loved, trying to keep her from harm.

Statler sighed.

This needed to be over so he and Eliza could figure out what would come next for them.

Right now, he’d settle for wrapping his arms around her, knowing she was safe.

Statler navigated the main road through town. At this time of night, the streets were empty.

Not surprising. Any after-hours entertainment took place in the neighboring burgs for the normal population, with Liminal being pretty much a ghost town except for those who worked clandestinely for Flazer.

Statler headed for the hill.

Never having been to the man’s house before, Statler was still familiar with it, as was everyone in town. It sat, in all it’s magnificence, overlooking the smattering of houses and a miniscule number of stores. It was purposefully positioned by Flazer, looking down on everything he owned, letting the population know he was better than them.

Statler slowed and looked up at the dark monolith, now several hundred feet away.

He had to decide how he wanted to approach.

He assumed that Eliza was going to take the direct method.

Yes, indeed.

The resoluteness in her voice had told Statler she’d gone all John Wick on him, which could work well for her if her father continued to underestimate her…as he’d apparently done for her entire life.

On the other hand, Statler wouldn’t put it past the canny, yet paranoid asshole to be sitting in wait for Eliza with a shotgun resting across his lap.

That picture sent a shiver up Statler’s spine, and made him want to storm the doors head on to immediately mitigate any threat. But from everything Eliza had revealed to him, Statler couldn’t do that. He understood that she needed to take care of this by herself.

His role, as much as it tore him up, would be to make sure she didn’t get herself killed.

So, no direct approach for him.

He was only there as her secondary.

Statler pulled over and brought up a satellite map of the area, zooming in on Flazer’s property.

“Bingo,” he muttered.

He found a rear, access road that was probably used by workpeople, servants, and delivery drivers.

Perfect.