Chapter 9 - The Betrayal
The beam of a police flashlight swept rapidly through the muddy water of the tunnel.
“They are down here,” a vicious voice echoed off the concrete walls.
It was Lawrence, and he was leading the corrupt local police officers straight toward them.
Marcus cocked his shotgun, stepping directly in front of Clara and Leonard.
“Run down the tunnel toward the river outfall, I will hold them back,” Marcus commanded.
“We are not leaving you behind to die,” Clara refused, grabbing Marcus by the arm.
“If Lawrence gets out of this alive, my brother gets no justice,” Marcus yelled over the echoing footsteps.
He shoved Clara and Leonard further down the dark pipe.
Leonard grabbed his mother's hand and pulled her away as Marcus raised his weapon.
A deafening shotgun blast echoed through the confined space, followed by shouting and returned gunfire.
Clara and Leonard splashed frantically through the knee-deep water, running for their lives.
Up ahead, a massive circle of pale moonlight marked the end of the storm drain.
They burst out of the tunnel and collapsed onto the muddy banks of the rushing river.
The cool night air filled Clara’s lungs, giving her a sudden burst of pure relief.
They had finally made it out of the death trap.
She looked up at her son, tears of joy streaming down her dirt-covered face.
“We survived,” she cried, reaching out to hug him.
Leonard smiled softly, but his eyes suddenly widened in sheer panic.
He looked over Clara’s shoulder at something standing in the tall grass.
Clara turned around slowly, her heart sinking into her stomach.
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Veronica was standing on the riverbank, aiming Lawrence’s silver revolver directly at Clara’s chest.
“I can’t let you go to the real police, Clara,” Veronica sobbed, her finger trembling on the trigger.
