The counterattack against S.H.I.E.L.D.—or rather, Hydra—had officially begun. Yet Evenson was still loafing around off to the side like some big-shot actor refusing to take the stage.
He had already made up his mind: as long as those three Insight Carriers did not take off, he absolutely would not make a move. More importantly, he had spotted his car parked in S.H.I.E.L.D.'s lot. A few hours after Hubbs had driven off in it, Hubbs had messaged him to say the police had impounded the car. With multiple violations added together, he might be facing a fine of over ten thousand dollars. It hurt so much that he had practically decided he did not want the car anymore.
But now, for some reason, S.H.I.E.L.D. seemed to have retrieved it. The fines must have been cleared as well. He could not help wanting to say to Pierce, "Thanks."
To kill time—and to keep his car from getting smashed once the fighting started—he decided to drive it somewhere safe first.
But after driving into a small grove and smoking two cigarettes, he still saw no sign of the Insight Carriers taking off. He could not help growing suspicious.
Could it be that his preparations had been too thorough, leaving Pierce no time to send those three carriers airborne before he was finished?
That would not do. Hydra had already done so much. It was like they had hung a red rope from the rafters and put their necks into the noose, only to stop short of kicking away the stool at the very last step. How was he supposed to feel when he had already divided up their inheritance?
No choice, then. He would have to trouble himself and kick the stool away for them.
Just as Evenson was thinking that, his phone