Chapter 9 - The Missing Accomplices
The State Troopers aggressively zip-tied Liam’s wrists and hauled him out of the broadcast booth.
A female medic rushed into the room, quickly assessing Ethan’s bruised neck and my bleeding face.
She wrapped a thick gauze pad around my nose and helped us both to our feet.
I frantically grabbed the commanding officer's arm, ignoring the stabbing pain in my ribs.
I told him that the Mayor and my husband were the architects of this massive cover-up.
The officer nodded grimly, stating they had already locked down the entire school perimeter.
He assured me that no one could get past the tactical units surrounding the building.
We were escorted out of the booth and walked back into the main auditorium.
The corrupt local police officers had been disarmed and were sitting on the floor under heavy guard.
The parents and students erupted into applause as Ethan and I walked down the aisle.
Ethan was still wearing the torn, dirty red dress, but he walked with his head held incredibly high.
He had honored his sister's memory in the most courageous way possible.
I pulled the sonogram from my shoe and handed it to the lead investigator as official evidence.
The investigator assured me that the DNA from the dried blood would finalize the case against Liam.
Suddenly, a loud radio crackle interrupted the chaotic noise of the auditorium.
A trooper stationed at the school's subterranean boiler room reported a critical situation.
He shouted that they had found Mayor Sterling and Richard trying to escape through the maintenance tunnels.
The trooper’s voice pitched upward in panic as he described the scene.
Richard had managed to steal a trooper's sidearm during a brief, violent struggle in the dark.
He was currently holding Mayor Sterling hostage at gunpoint near the main gas lines.
Richard was demanding a vehicle and safe passage out of the state.
He threatened to shoot the massive gas mains if anyone attempted to breach the tunnel.
The commanding officer cursed loudly and ordered a full evacuation of the auditorium.
If Richard pulled the trigger, the spark would level the entire high school in a massive explosion.
The crowd panicked, rushing frantically toward the front exits as alarms began to blare.
Ethan grabbed my hand tightly, but I planted my feet firmly on the carpet.
May you like
I knew exactly what I had to do to stop the monster I had married.
I pulled away from the troopers and sprinted directly toward the basement stairwell.
