In the first-class lounge at the airport, Thomas sat on a leather sofa with a cup of cold coffee in front of him.
He stared blankly at the runway outside the floor-to-ceiling window, while low boarding announcements played in the background.
At that moment, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated, but no caller ID appeared on the screen.
He frowned, skillfully pressed the recording button, and answered the call in a low, cautious voice, "Hello, this is Thomas."
A young man's voice came from the other end, light-hearted yet with a hint of mockery, "Hello, Mr. Thomas, my name is Victor. I'm a... fugitive."
Thomas was stunned. Having been a civil servant for half his life, it was the first time he had received such a candid phone call, almost thinking it was a prank from a bored kid.
"You probably aren't familiar with my name," the other person paused, then slowly threw out a name, "but Ellison Parker..."
