Chapter 8 - The Oxygen Runs Out
The tiny panic room was completely silent except for their ragged breathing.
The digital timer on the wall mercilessly counted down their remaining oxygen.
Victoria wept uncontrollably in the corner, her glamorous facade completely destroyed.
She knew Marcus had left them to suffocate in this steel coffin.
Hannah sat calmly beside Leo, holding his small hand to keep him brave.
She looked at Victoria and demanded to know the entire truth before they died.
Broken and terrified, Victoria finally confessed everything in the dark room.
She admitted that she had never wanted to hurt the boy.
Marcus had viciously blackmailed her with dark secrets from her past to force her cooperation.
He was the true mastermind who orchestrated the hospital switch and the fake death.
Leo reached into his pocket and quietly pulled out the real micro-SD card.
He hadn't swallowed it at all; he had simply hidden it perfectly in the lining of his tuxedo.
Hannah smiled proudly at her brilliant nephew, taking the precious evidence from his hand.
The air in the room was growing dangerously thin, making them dizzy and weak.
The timer ticked down to the final three minutes.
Victoria closed her eyes, apologizing softly for the monster she had become.
Hannah wrapped her arms around Leo, preparing for the inevitable end.
Suddenly, a deafening mechanical grinding noise echoed from the steel door.
Bright sparks flew as a heavy industrial saw cut aggressively through the locking mechanism.
The heavy door was violently ripped off its hinges, letting in a rush of cool, clean air.
Standing in the doorway, covered in soot and holding a massive crowbar, was Arthur.
He was flanked by a heavily armed FBI SWAT team.
Arthur dropped the crowbar and fell to his knees, pulling his son and Hannah into a desperate embrace.
He explained that the corrupt police captain had been secretly arrested by federal agents hours ago.
Arthur had been working with the FBI to set a trap for his treacherous lawyer.
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But the lead SWAT agent tapped Arthur on the shoulder with urgent news.
Marcus had completely vanished from the property, taking all the stolen digital funds with him.
