Behind Croft, the elderly man slowly slid the twenty-dollar bill into his breast pocket. The frail, weary posture vanished instantly. His back straightened, his jaw hardened into iron, and his piercing gaze locked onto Croft with chilling, undeniable authority.
Reaching into his inner coat pocket, he pulled out a sleek, modern smartphone.
He dialed a single emergency speed-dial and brought the receiver to his ear.
His deep, gravelly voice resonated across the station forecourt like a thunderclap:
"Send everyone here."
He paused, his eyes narrowing as he fixed an icy glare on Croft's sneering face.
"Right now."
Chapter IV: The Fleet Arrives
Croft scoffed, shaking his head with mocking laughter: "Send everyone? What, you calling a tow truck from the junkyard? You both have two minutes before I call the county sheriff for loitering—"