Chapter 6 - The Dark Room
I froze in the terrifying darkness.
Reynolds was standing between us and the only exit.
The faint red glow of the emergency exit sign illuminated his silhouette.
He was holding a suppressed pistol.
“Toss the key over here, Sarah,” Reynolds demanded.
Dominic stepped in front of me, shielding my body with his own.
“You’re a long way from your precinct, Reynolds,” Dominic said calmly.
“And you’re out of time, Moretti,” Reynolds sneered.
“The ledger in that bank box belongs to me.”
“It has the power to bring down the entire state government.”
Reynolds took a step closer, raising his weapon.
“Your husband was smart, Sarah, but he was weak.”
“He thought he could play in the big leagues.”
I felt a surge of pure anger replace my fear.
“My husband was twice the man you will ever be,” I spat.
Reynolds laughed dryly.
“We will see about that.”
Dominic moved with lightning speed.
He kicked a metal bench across the room, sending it crashing into Reynolds’ legs.
Reynolds fired wildly, the suppressed gun making dull popping sounds.
One of the bullets shattered the mirror behind me.
Dominic tackled Reynolds to the floor.
The two men fought brutally in the dim red light.
I scrambled backward, clutching the deposit box key to my chest.
Reynolds managed to knee Dominic in the ribs.
He broke free and scrambled for his dropped weapon.
He aimed it directly at Dominic’s chest.
I didn’t think.
I just reacted.
I grabbed a heavy fire extinguisher from the wall mount.
I swung it as hard as I could and smashed it into the back of Reynolds’ head.
He collapsed to the floor, completely unconscious.
I dropped the extinguisher, my hands shaking violently.
Dominic stood up, breathing heavily.
He looked at me with genuine astonishment.
“You just saved my life,” he said.
“Consider it payback for the hot chocolate,” I replied, trying to steady my voice.
Dominic quickly zip-tied Reynolds’ hands behind his back using medical supplies.
“We need to get to the bank before his men realize he’s missing,” Dominic said.
He took the burner phone out of his pocket and dialed a number.
“Bring the car to the east entrance,” he ordered.
We left Reynolds tied to a locker and ran toward the exit.
We burst through the hospital doors and jumped into a waiting black sedan.
The driver hit the gas, speeding toward the financial district.
I looked down at the small key in my hand.
“This is it,” I whispered.
“We can finally end this.”
Dominic looked out the window, his jaw tight.
“It’s never that easy, Sarah.”
My burner phone suddenly buzzed with a text message.
I opened it and the blood drained from my face.
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It was a photo of Lily, asleep in a strange bed.
The text below it read: “Bring the key to Pier 40, or the girl disappears forever.”
