Chapter 10 - The Mastermind
The storm finally broke, revealing the first pale light of dawn over the Colorado mountains.
The deafening sound of the floodwaters began to recede into a steady, manageable roar.
In the distance, the rhythmic chopping sound of heavy search and rescue helicopters echoed through the valley.
The guests on the roof began to weep with relief, holding onto one another.
Scott sank to his knees, burying his face in his hands, exhausted and broken.
Elise lay tied up on the rocks, her grand theft completely foiled.
Georgia leaned back against the cold steel of the roof, breathing deeply for the first time in hours.
The nightmare was over, and she had saved them all.
The first rescue chopper lowered a basket, and heavily armed state troopers fast-roped down to the rock shelf.
The lead officer, a tall man with cold eyes, ignored the cheering guests.
He walked past Scott, completely ignoring Elise struggling on the ground.
He walked straight toward Ruth Caldwell, the resort nurse.
The officer reached into his tactical vest, pulled out an encrypted satellite phone, and handed it respectfully to Ruth.
Ruth took the phone, her warm, caring demeanor vanishing instantly.
Her posture straightened, and her eyes turned hard and calculating.
Ruth walked over to where Georgia was resting on the roof.
The nurse looked down at the woman whose life she had saved just hours before.
Ruth offered a chilling, perfectly controlled smile.
"You did very well tonight, Georgia," Ruth whispered.
"Elise was just a distraction to see how your husband would react under pressure."
May you like
Ruth stepped over Georgia and keyed the satellite phone.
"The real operation begins now," Ruth said into the receiver.
