Knockemout, #3
Things We Left Behind
by Lucy Score
Contents
43
Overview
Lucian convenes his team after Hugo’s threats, and Maureen supplies crucial intel. Sloane uncovers shell companies tying Hugo to private prisons, explaining the arson and leverage within facilities. Armed with this evidence, Lucian mobilizes the FBI to arrest Hugo and dismantle his network. With Hugo jailed and assets frozen, Lucian and Sloane finally exhale.
Summary
In the pre-dawn aftermath of Hugo’s threats, Lucian gathers his inner circle—Lina, Nolan, private investigator Nallana, hacker Prairie, and security—demanding immediate leverage to force an FBI arrest. Maureen Fitzgerald arrives with a dossier from her network, jump-starting the team’s shell-corp tracing.
As Nolan and Prairie map three additional shell companies and offshore accounts, Lucian pressures for actionable proof. Sloane, reviewing contracts and ownership webs, connects the arson and Mary Louise’s case to a broader scheme: Civic Group, owned through entities including Rex Management, controls multiple private prisons. She identifies Lucrum as the facility where Duncan Hugo feared transfer, confirming Hugo’s reach and motive.
Lucian calls Special Agent Idler, pivoting the operation toward Rex Management and Civic Group. By morning, coordinated arrests roll out against Hugo and his officers, while inmates and lieutenants in Hugo-controlled prisons turn state’s evidence on ordered assaults and murders, including Felix Metzer’s disposal.
Lucian visits Hugo in custody, detailing frozen assets, arrested inner circle, and cooperating witnesses. Hugo issues violent threats, but Lucian reveals even Hugo’s watchers are already detained and talking. Lucian leaves Hugo stewing in a jumpsuit and a collapsing empire.
Returning home, Lucian tells Sloane the takedown succeeded. With Grace and Lina ending guard duty, the immediate danger lifted, Lucian and Sloane finally relax together, the crisis giving way to hard-won relief and intimacy.
Who Appears
- Lucian RollinsStrategizes Hugo’s takedown, coordinates team and FBI, confronts Hugo post-arrest, and finally relaxes with Sloane.
- Sloane WaltonFinds the shell-company chain linking Hugo to private prisons, tying arson and leverage to his empire.
- Anthony HugoCrime boss arrested after prison-ownership scheme exposed; threatens retaliation but faces frozen assets and informants.
- Maureen FitzgeraldProvides a critical dossier of intel from her network that accelerates identifying shell corporations.
- NolanAnalyzes shell corporations and offshore funds; supports the rapid evidence-building effort.
- PrairieCybersecurity hacker who digs into Rex Management and Civic Group, surfacing ownership links.
- LinaManages logistics and updates; keeps operations moving and guards Sloane until threat subsides.
- Special Agent IdlerActivates arrests based on the private prison evidence, securing Hugo and his officers.
- NallanaPI pressing street sources for intel; contributes to the broader pressure on Hugo.
- GraceOversees security for families and helps guard Sloane during the takedown window.