James hung up.
Hydra had made their move.
Now it was his turn.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
By the time James finished his second call, the cops were finally moving in—but what they really needed were ambulances.
Dozens of thugs were on the ground, most with broken bones. Though not all of them would be arrested. Most were too injured to even walk.
The moment the police arrived, the crowd found its voice.
Dozens of parents and bystanders stepped forward, all saying the same thing—too slow, too late.
This was a private middle school. Most of these kids came from at least upper-middle-class homes. The tuition fee wasn't cheap. Expectations weren't low.
"Why were you so late?" one woman barked at the lead officer. She wore a lanyard and a sharp jacket—probably a PTA rep or an over-involved mother. "The school called, we called. You showed up half an hour later. Where are our taxes going?"
The officer's jaw tightened. This was the 56th Precinct, and today was already going sideways.
He knew what happened. Dispatch had told them to slow roll it.
And now he was the one standing in the splash zone.
Once one parent started spraying verbal fire, the others joined in—like a pack of wolves that smelled fear.
The officers surrounded the injured thugs.
While the civilians surrounded the officers.
A full-on shouting match broke out at the gate of one of New York's better schools.
Some parents even turned it into a teachable moment for their kids.
"See that? Don't join gangs. The real move is to hold the system accountable. You pay taxes, you demand answers. These cops? They ignored all of us. And that's not acceptable."
James adjusted his cuffs, stepped into the car, and shut the door behind him. He didn't drive off. Just sat there and glanced at Mindy.
"How was school today?" he asked with a smile.
The adrenaline had passed. Mindy sat upright in the passenger seat, hands folded neatly in her lap. "It was good. The teachers and classmates like me."
James nodded. "Of course they do. You're smart, dressed sharp, and you don't talk too much."
She grinned a little.
"Make some friends. Bring them home. And if there's any club or school event, go to it."
"I was thinking about the boxing club," she admitted. "But it's mostly boys."
James sighed. "As expected of you."
He wasn't thrilled with the idea of her spending lunch breaks around sweaty muscleheads, but he let it go. She'd pick whatever suited her.
"Try something else too. Flower arrangements maybe. Carlos has the shop, and it wouldn't hurt to learn something peaceful. If you want to train, you've got the equipment at home. The armory next door got more than enough."
Her eyes lit up. "Then you'll teach me?"
"Of course. Whenever I'm not busy."
He leaned back slightly. "Being strong's good. Keeping your figure's better. And no matter what, you're going to grow up and turn heads. Let's keep the 'purple tank' version of you from ever happening." James imagined a scene of Mindy looking like Sakura Ogami from danganronpa which gaved him chills, it would be best for her to become like Jolyne from Jojo, or Juri from SF.
*Knock knock knock.*
James turned. The sheriff had finally wriggled free of the crowd.
His uniform was damp. Either from sweat or civilian complaints.
"Sir, we need you to come with us to make a statement."
James shrugged. "No problem. But I'm not saying anything until my lawyers get there."
The sheriff nodded, resigned. "Of course. That's your right."
"They're flying in from California."
That made him blink. "You don't have anyone local?"
"Maybe. My legal team was just finalized. Let me check."
James pulled out his phone and dialed.
The sheriff just stared. Legal team?
That changed things.
Big lawyers were one thing.
But a team meant strategy. Money. Power. The kind of people who didn't just win—they buried.
"Philip," James said. "I'm headed to the 56th. Do we have anyone posted in New York?"
"Absolutely, boss. Since you live there. We've had a rotating team of three attorneys on-site. They're already en route to the station."
"Good work. I've got high expectations. See you soon."
James hung up and looked at the sheriff again. "They're already on the way. You can lead me in. I'll have my family pick up my sister."
"Yes, sir."
The sheriff dabbed his face with a handkerchief, finally acknowledging the soaking sweat.
He waved for two squad cars to flank the R8 and began directing traffic out of the school lot.
Nothing happened en route. When James pulled up at the 56th Precinct, the lawyers were already waiting outside.
So was Carlos.
James stepped out and nodded to his father. "You didn't bring Hannah?"
"She's covering the shop. Didn't see a need to worry her. You alright?"
"All good," James said. "Just a minor thing. Mindy's gonna head home with you. Philip's flying in too."
Carlos gave him a look, then clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"I figured you had it under control."
James just smirked. "Always do."