The deputy police chief's head jerked back sharply, his eyes rolled upward and closed. He didn't even have time to cry out, he simply collapsed onto the car seat.
Gideon instantly rushed over and caught the body before it could fall completely onto the asphalt.
"Clean," he whispered.
"No one saw us, I hope…"
Bruno let out a heavy sigh, flexing his fist.
"He's a weakling. Went down with one punch. I hope this bastard will actually be useful…"
They quickly dragged the unconscious Max onto the back seat of his own car. Gideon took the wheel, Bruno sat next to the prisoner, holding him against the seat just in case. The car quietly pulled out of the garage and disappeared into the night streets.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts, the same one Flash had once used as a secret safehouse. In the center stood an old metal chair bolted to the floor with chains.
The safehouse was almost compromised, but Susie had somehow managed to create a shield that hid them from unwanted eyes.
"Grandma taught me this sigil. I never thought I'd actually need it," she said as she finished the final knot of the shield and drew a large Algiz rune on the wall.
"It will protect us from prying eyes and ears…"
They sat Max down on the chair and securely handcuffed him. Gideon checked the restraints while Bruno stood nearby, wiping blood from his knuckles with a rag.
Max Neville began to regain consciousness a few minutes later. First he groaned, then jerked sharply, trying to stand. The chains rattled. He opened his eyes and saw two men in front of him.
"What the… what the hell is this?!" he croaked.
"Who the hell are you?! Do you even know who you've attacked?!"
Bruno leaned in close. His massive face was inches away from the deputy police chief's.
"We're the ones who are tired of your boss," he said calmly.
"Richard Hale. Gerard. All this shit you've been covering up."
Max jerked again, but the chains held firm. Blood from his split lip ran down his chin.
"You idiots…" he hissed.
"Gerard will tear you to pieces. You have no idea who you're messing with."
Gideon stood off to the side with his arms crossed over his chest. His voice was cold and businesslike:
"We know exactly who we're messing with. That's why you're here. You're going to talk."
"You're going to tell us everything you know about Hale, his connection to Gerard, and how they control the police."
"Especially how we can replace him."
Max laughed.
"You think I'll betray my boss? You don't even know what he'll do to you when he finds out."
Bruno slowly leaned in even closer. His voice became low and threatening:
"And do you know what we'll do to you if you don't talk? We're not Gerard. We won't torture you for weeks."
"We'll just make you disappear. And no one will ever find your body."
Max fell silent. His eyes darted between Bruno and Gideon. The former confidence in his gaze was gone, replaced by growing fear.
Gideon stepped closer, placed a chair in front of him, and sat down.
"Let's start with something simple," he said calmly.
"Tell us how Hale is connected to Gerard. And how we can remove him from his position. You have five minutes to start talking."
"After that, we'll start asking questions differently."
Max sighed, looking at them. Blood continued to drip from his split lip onto his expensive suit.
He understood that the only way he was leaving this room alive was if he told them everything.
Bruno and Gideon waited.
Max spat blood onto the concrete floor and raised his head. A crooked, contemptuous smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Humans…" he spat through his broken lips. His voice was hoarse and full of disgust.
"You've always been like this. You don't even understand what will happen after you destroy Gerard."
"You think you can rule the world, but in reality you're just meat. Walking meat that we use however we want."
Gideon stepped closer.
"Shut up and get to the point," he said harshly.
"We didn't bring you here to listen to your philosophy."
Max laughed with genuine malice.
"The point? What point could you possibly have?"
"You're trash and you don't even understand what's really happening. Gerard and Richard are building a new world and trying to protect you, even if the methods are… unusual."
Bruno leaned forward. His huge frame completely overshadowed Max. A cold fire burned in Bruno's eyes.
"I'm not asking for your opinion about humans," he said in a low, threatening voice.
"I'm asking how we can remove Richard Hale from his position. You know all his connections."
"And you know exactly how he works for Gerard."
Max looked at Bruno and smirked again, though the smile came out crooked because of his split lip.
"I have nothing to tell you," he replied, almost with pleasure.
"Even if I knew anything, I don't. I just follow orders. Hale is a smart bastard. He never leaves traces. And if you think I'll betray him… then you're even stupider than I thought."
Bruno slowly stood up. His shadow completely engulfed Max. He took out his phone, dialed a short number, and turned on speakerphone. The other side answered almost immediately.
"Bruno? Been a while, big guy."
"I need a favor," Bruno said calmly, staring straight at Max.
"I've got an important man here."
"Deputy police chief. He doesn't want to talk. Maybe you know someone who can… convince him differently?"