Chapter 2 - The Fugitive Protocol
The drone emitted a low, mechanical hum as it adjusted its camera lens.
Mathis did not hesitate.
He grabbed a discarded steel pipe from a nearby dumpster and swung it with all his might.
The pipe connected with the drone, shattering its plastic casing and sending it crashing into a brick wall in a shower of sparks.
"Run," he ordered.
Elise pushed through the fatigue, her breath visible in the freezing air.
They sprinted down the narrow alley, dodging garbage bags and abandoned wooden pallets.
Behind them, the metal basement door exploded outward with a deafening crash.
Shouts filled the alleyway as armed men poured out of the building.
Mathis led Elise toward the bustling Saint-Ouen flea market, hoping the dense crowds would offer cover.
Neon signs flickered overhead as they blended into a group of late-night shoppers.
Elise stumbled, her face pale as she clutched her side.
"I can't keep this pace," she gasped.
Mathis spotted a bakery delivery van idling near the curb with the driver smoking a cigarette down the street.
He practically dragged her into the passenger seat and jumped behind the wheel.
He slammed the van into gear and sped away just as Luc and two armed men rushed out of the market entrance.
The van's heater blasted warm air, but Elise was still shivering uncontrollably.
Mathis turned on the radio to monitor the local police scanner.
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Instead of police chatter, a breaking news bulletin interrupted the music.
The news anchor's voice filled the cabin, stating that billionaire Mathis Varenne was currently wanted by authorities for the violent kidnapping of his pregnant wife.
