Chapter 6 - The Standoff
I slowly turned around while still kneeling on the damp grass.
Chief Miller was standing there with his service weapon pointed directly at my head.
The Mayor stood beside him, clutching a gasoline can with shaking hands.
"You really should have stayed away, Andrea," the Mayor said with a nervous twitch in his eye.
Gladys stepped out from the shadows of the large oak tree, looking completely unbothered by the blazing inferno.
"Give me the lockbox, and we might let you walk away," Gladys demanded coldly.
"You just tried to burn me alive, Gladys," I replied while slowly getting to my feet.
The Navy officer stood up next to me, placing himself slightly in front to shield my body.
"Chief Miller, if you pull that trigger, you will be hunted by the entire United States military," the officer warned.
Miller's hands were shaking violently, clearly realizing he was in way over his head.
"I just wanted a cut of the grant money, I never signed up for murder," the Chief stammered.
"Shut up and shoot them!" Gladys screamed, her elegant facade completely shattering.
I realized the police chief was weak and looking for any excuse to back down.
"Miller, Gladys has been running this scam across three different states," I bluffed confidently.
"When the FBI arrives, she is going to blame the entire operation on you and the Mayor," I added.
The Chief looked at the Mayor with sudden, intense suspicion in his eyes.
"Is that true?" Miller asked, slightly lowering his weapon.
The Mayor took a step backward and dropped the gasoline can onto the lawn.
"She told me it was a victimless crime," the Mayor whined pathetically.
Gladys cursed loudly and aggressively snatched the gun right out of the police chief's hand.
"If you idiots will not do it, I will finish the job myself," she snarled.
May you like
She aimed the weapon directly at my chest and pulled the trigger without any hesitation.
A deafening gunshot echoed through the quiet suburban neighborhood.
