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~~((National Rescue Dog Day - page 4 of 20))~~
At length, the loudmouth began to look more smug again. As the time ticked, he was no doubt starting to believe that Leo had indeed been acting.

Until the sound of sirens arrived.

It was an unfamiliar noise to Evangelina's ears, unlike the sirens they used back in Sair. These were more piercing and whistle-like. But the sudden frowns on all of the Abolishers faces told her everything she needed to know.

Without another word, they dispersed like cockroaches, with only the loudmouth lingering a moment longer to spit on the ground in front of them.

Once they were all gone, Leo started chortling.

"Why are you laughing?" said Melchor. "The situation may have been diffused, but the police will still be quite inconvenient to deal with. I'm not even convinced that simply crushing them wouldn't have been the wiser course of action."

Leo only laughed harder, however. He stuffed his phone into his pocket and got back in the limousine.

Everyone exchanged confused looks before joining him.

Once all the doors were closed, he explained, "I didn't actually make the call. Those sirens were just a coincidence!" And he kept laughing. "Talk about timing, eh?!"

Evangelina had no words.

Nor did anyone else, apparently.

Their driver started the car back up.

But before they could get rolling again, someone else appeared in the middle of the road.

From above. Evangelina's view was partially blocked by the roof of the car, so it looked as though a man had dropped down from seemingly nowhere and then was suddenly leaning on the hood of the car, peering through the windshield.

A man in a policeman's uniform.

Leo's laughter cut off, instantly replaced with a confused grunt. "What the frick?!"

Everyone looked at him again as he double-checked his phone.

"Dudes, I swear I didn't call nobody!" he said.