Chapter 10 - The Mastermind
The heavy machine guns on the assault boats were aimed directly at them.
There was nowhere left to run.
Victor slowly raised his hands in absolute defeat.
Anna shielded Lily and silently prayed for a miracle.
The helicopter hovered loudly just fifty feet above the water.
A man stood in the open side door with a megaphone.
It was not Julian.
"Stand down and prepare to be boarded," an authoritative voice boomed over the lake.
Victor squinted directly into the blinding light.
He recognized the logo painted on the side of the chopper.
It was the federal tactical task force.
The police had finally arrived.
The heavily armed officers stormed the boat and quickly secured the area.
They pulled Victor, Anna, and the children onto the massive police cruiser.
Blankets were immediately wrapped around their freezing shoulders.
The nightmare was officially over.
An older detective walked over to Victor with a comforting smile.
"We intercepted a distress signal from your estate, Mr. Moreto," the detective explained.
"We have already apprehended Julian and his men at the perimeter."
Victor breathed a massive sigh of relief and closed his eyes.
"Thank God," Victor whispered softly.
Anna hugged Lily tightly as tears of pure joy streamed down her dirty face.
They had survived the deadliest night of their lives.
Victor looked over at Anna and nodded deeply in gratitude.
He then looked at his son, Ethan.
The boy would need serious psychiatric help, but they were alive.
The police cruiser began speeding back toward the safety of the city.
Anna leaned her head back against the cold metal wall of the cabin.
She felt a sudden vibration in her pocket.
She frowned and slowly pulled out her old, cracked cell phone.
She had absolutely no signal on the lake all night.
She opened the newly received text message.
It was from an unknown number.
The message contained only a single audio file.
Anna pressed play and held the speaker close to her ear.
The recording was crystal clear.
It was Mr. Moreto's voice, speaking calmly to Julian.
"The boy is getting too dangerous to control," Victor's recorded voice said.
"We will use the fake assassination tonight to wipe out the maid and her kid, then blame it on them."
Anna's heart completely stopped beating.
She slowly lowered the phone and looked across the cabin.
Victor was watching her closely.
He offered her a warm and terrifyingly gentle smile.
"Are you feeling alright, Anna?" Victor asked quietly.
May you like
Anna realized the police cruiser was not heading toward the city at all.
It was heading out into the dark and endless ocean.
