Chapter 3 - The Frame Job
Laura spun around to face the federal agent, her mind reeling from the impossible situation.
The man flashed a badge identifying himself as Special Agent Vance of the FBI.
"That capsule contains a microchip with offshore bank accounts linking a massive human trafficking ring," Vance explained rapidly.
"Jason is a high-level courier for the cartel, and he used your daughter as a human smuggling mule to bypass our checkpoints."
Laura felt her knees buckle, but Dr. Doyle caught her before she hit the floor.
The sickening truth was finally entirely clear to the devastated mother.
Jason had taken Emma on a supposed camping trip, only to force her to swallow the evidence when he realized the feds were tailing him.
Suddenly, the hospital’s intercom system crackled to life with an emergency broadcast.
"Code Silver, active shooter in the main lobby, initiate lockdown procedures," the automated voice blared.
Laura’s heart leaped into her throat as the horrifying reality set in.
Jason had not come to the hospital with a lawyer to defend himself.
He had brought an armed cartel hit squad to retrieve the microchip at any cost.
Agent Vance drew his sidearm and locked the heavy steel door of the observation deck.
"They cut the main phone lines, so we have no outside communication," Vance grimly noted.
Dr. Doyle immediately moved to the surgical intercom to warn the team operating on Emma.
"You need to finish closing her up and barricade those doors right now," she commanded the surgeon.
Gunfire echoed down the long hallway outside, growing louder with every passing second.
Laura looked down at her daughter, who was still unconscious and completely defenseless on the operating table.
She realized that she could not just stand by and wait for Jason to slaughter them all.
Laura grabbed a heavy metal fire extinguisher from the wall mount.
"Agent Vance, give me your spare magazine," she demanded with a fierce fire in her eyes.
The FBI agent looked at the suburban mother in shock.
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Before he could answer, the heavy steel door of the observation deck violently blew open from a shotgun blast.
Standing in the smoke was Jason, holding a bleeding nurse as a human shield.
