Chapter 8 - The Dark Aisle
Clare reached the basement electrical room, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
She found the massive grey circuit breaker panel on the back wall.
She placed her hands on the heavy master switch, waiting desperately for Daniel’s signal.
Upstairs, Daniel sprinted through the home appliance section, using refrigerators for cover.
The sniper fired methodically, tracking Daniel’s movements with terrifying accuracy.
Daniel recognized the sniper's voice from a thousand boardroom meetings.
It was Amanda, his trusted Chief Financial Officer and right-hand woman for the past decade.
Amanda yelled down from the catwalk, mocking his misplaced loyalty.
She confessed that she had ordered Mark’s murder when he found the corrupted ledgers.
She admitted she had sabotaged Daniel's helicopter tonight to seize control of the entire empire.
Daniel reached the sporting goods section and grabbed a powerful hunting crossbow from a display.
He loaded a heavy bolt, calculating the angle he needed to reach the catwalk.
He yelled Clare's name at the top of his lungs.
Down in the basement, Clare pulled the heavy master switch down with all her strength.
The entire massive retail store plunged into absolute, pitch-black darkness.
Amanda’s night vision goggles flared violently, blinding her for a crucial three seconds.
Daniel stepped out from cover and fired the crossbow directly toward the catwalk.
The heavy bolt struck Amanda in the shoulder, sending her sniper rifle clattering to the floor.
Amanda screamed and fell backward, tumbling over the railing.
She crashed violently into a display of winter mattresses on the main floor.
Daniel rushed forward, pinning the wounded CFO to the ground with his knee.
He demanded to know exactly where she had hidden the little girl.
Amanda coughed, blood staining her expensive designer blouse.
She laughed weakly, stating that Lily was already dead and buried in the garden section.
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Daniel drew his pistol, fully prepared to execute the woman who had betrayed him.
Suddenly, a soft whimpering sound came from inside a locked display shed a few feet away.
