Chapter 9 - The Final Gambit
The heavy armored van hit the freezing ocean water with a violently deafening crash that shattered the remaining windows.
Frigid, black water immediately began pouring into the cabin with terrifying speed and unstoppable force.
Eleanor ignored the freezing pain and quickly used the sharp silver crest to slice through the zip ties binding the two boys.
The water rapidly rose to their waists, pushing the heavy van deeper into the pitch-black depths of the harbor.
Eleanor yelled for the boys to take a deep, massive breath just before the water entirely swallowed the interior.
The freezing temperature was absolutely paralyzing, but adrenaline forced Eleanor's limbs to keep moving in the dark.
She swam to the heavily locked rear doors, desperately kicking against the thick steel with both feet.
The intense water pressure from the outside made the heavy doors completely impossible to force open.
Julian pointed frantically toward the broken glass partition leading to the driver's seat, signaling a way out.
Leo bravely swam through the jagged opening first, successfully slipping into the front cabin.
He managed to pull the driver's side door handle, which had been weakened by the violent crash.
The front door slowly drifted open, allowing a steady stream of faint moonlight to pierce the murky water.
Leo grabbed Julian's hand, forcefully pulling his adopted brother through the dangerous opening and out of the sinking vehicle.
Eleanor followed right behind them, her lungs burning painfully as she desperately kicked toward the glowing surface.
They broke the surface of the water simultaneously, gasping loudly for air in the freezing, stormy night.
They desperately grabbed onto a barnacle-covered wooden piling to keep from drowning in the heavy waves.
On the pier above, Richard was angrily screaming at the corrupt police captain to shine a spotlight on the water.
Before the captain could turn the light on, the sudden, deafening sound of a dozen helicopter rotors filled the sky.
Three heavily armed FBI tactical teams fast-roped directly onto the concrete pier, immediately surrounding the corrupt men.
Eleanor's private lawyer had correctly deciphered Julian's SOS message and brought the full weight of the federal government down upon them.
May you like
Richard tried desperately to draw a weapon, but a federal agent tackled him violently to the wet concrete.
Eleanor watched from the freezing water as the man who had destroyed her family was finally placed in heavy steel handcuffs.
