Chapter 7 - The Chase Begins
The hospital room fell into a terrifying, suffocating silence at the detective's horrifying news.
"Who could possibly ambush a heavily armed police transport van?" Ryan asked from his hospital bed.
Detective Hayes locked the hospital door and pulled the blinds tightly shut over the windows.
"Vanessa was embezzling millions of dollars for a ruthless international crime syndicate," Hayes revealed grimly.
"Her corporate job was just a perfect cover for laundering illegal money across global borders."
I realized with creeping dread that the $400,000 salary she had bragged about was merely pocket change to her true bosses.
The syndicate had broken her out of police custody because she knew far too many of their dark secrets.
"We need to put this entire family into protective custody immediately," the detective insisted with urgency.
Before we could even begin to pack our things, the hospital fire alarm began blaring with a deafening screech.
Thick, black smoke started pouring aggressively through the ventilation ducts into Ryan's recovery room.
"They are already here in the building," Hayes stated, pulling his weapon from his shoulder holster.
I grabbed Leo's hand tightly and helped Ryan painfully climb out of his hospital bed.
We rushed out into the chaotic hallway, surrounded by panicked nurses and screaming patients fleeing the smoke.
We pushed our way toward the emergency stairwell, desperately avoiding the crowded main elevators.
As we reached the heavy metal fire door, a towering man in a dark suit blocked our only escape route.
He raised a suppressed submachine gun and aimed it directly at my brother's chest.
Detective Hayes did not hesitate for a single second, firing two rapid shots into the assassin's shoulder.
The man grunted and stumbled backward, dropping his heavy weapon onto the concrete stairs.
"Keep moving down the stairs, do not stop for anything!" the detective ordered us fiercely.
We scrambled down four flights of stairs, the sound of heavy boots echoing loudly behind us.
We burst out of the side exit and into the rainy, freezing hospital parking lot.
Detective Hayes quickly ushered us into an unmarked, armored tactical van waiting near the loading docks.
He slammed his foot on the accelerator, tearing through the metal security gates and speeding into the night.
"I am taking you to a secure federal safe house located deep in the mountains," Hayes explained while driving.
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I looked back at my terrified family, hoping we could finally escape the ruthless killers hunting us.
Suddenly, a massive armored truck smashed violently into the side of our speeding van.
