Chapter 6 - The Basement Escape
The sudden darkness plunged the chaotic dining room into absolute, terrifying silence.
The SWAT officers immediately activated the tactical lights mounted on their rifles.
Beams of bright white light cut through the dark, frantically searching for any sign of a new threat.
In the confusion, Garrick's younger brother, who had been hiding in the corner, suddenly lunged forward.
He aggressively shoved one of the police officers holding Garrick into the heavy wooden table.
The officer lost his grip, and Garrick instantly ripped himself free from the cuffs.
Garrick did not run toward the shattered windows where the police forces were waiting outside.
Instead, he sprinted desperately toward the hidden servant's door located behind the large antique grandfather clock.
Commissioner Fletcher yelled for his men to open fire, but Garrick had already slipped through the narrow doorway.
The heavy secret door slammed shut, locking automatically from the inside.
I grabbed Sienna's hand and pulled her behind the safety of the overturned dining chairs.
The SWAT team quickly attached a small breaching charge to the hidden door and blew the lock completely off the hinges.
They rushed into the dark, narrow passageway, sweeping the area with their laser sights.
The Commissioner turned to me and ordered us to stay in the dining room where it was relatively safe.
I refused to let the monster who hurt my daughter escape justice tonight.
I told the Commissioner that I knew the exact layout of this estate because my late husband originally built it.
The secret passage led directly down into a massive, maze-like subterranean wine cellar.
I grabbed a flashlight from a stunned police officer and led the way down the spiraling stone staircase.
The air in the basement grew incredibly cold and smelled heavily of damp earth and old oak barrels.
We moved silently through the towering rows of expensive vintage wines, searching for any sign of Garrick.
Suddenly, we heard the distinct, loud roar of a powerful car engine starting up in the distance.
Garrick had managed to reach the underground garage connected to the far end of the cellar.
We sprinted blindly through the dark maze, desperately trying to stop him before he could drive away.
We burst through the heavy fire doors and rushed into the brightly lit underground garage.
Garrick's expensive sports car was still parked entirely untouched in its designated spot.
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I realized with absolute horror that he had not taken his own vehicle to escape.
He had stolen my heavily armored, bulletproof executive town car, and my private driver was missing.
