Chapter 8 - The Courthouse Standoff
The massive granite pillars of the district courthouse loomed menacingly in the heavy rain.
It was nearly three in the morning, but the lights in the judge's private chambers were burning brightly.
Arthur parked the armored SUV in a dark, hidden alleyway just a block from the building.
He handed Emily and Maria heavy bulletproof vests from the trunk of the vehicle.
“Judge Harrison has been on David's secret payroll for over a decade,” Arthur explained quickly.
“Once his signature touches that final legal document, the money is legally gone forever.”
Emily strapped the heavy tactical vest over her soaked nurse uniform.
She felt a fierce, burning anger replacing all the fear in her tired heart.
They approached the heavy glass doors of the courthouse through the shadows.
Arthur expertly bypassed the electronic security keypad in less than thirty seconds.
The grand marble lobby was completely empty, silent except for the squeak of their wet shoes.
They climbed the wide, sweeping staircase toward the third-floor executive chambers.
As they neared the heavy oak doors, they could hear muffled laughter echoing from inside.
Emily kicked the double doors open with a massive surge of adrenaline.
Judge Harrison jumped in his leather chair, dropping his expensive gold fountain pen.
David and Chloe were sitting comfortably across from the grand desk, holding champagne flutes.
“What is the meaning of this?” the judge bellowed, his face turning completely red.
Arthur raised his heavy rifle, instantly silencing the corrupted official.
David merely sighed, setting his crystal glass down with annoying calmness.
“You are like a terrible cockroach, Emily, simply refusing to die quietly.”
Chloe glared at her sister, her beautiful face twisted into an ugly sneer.
“You are too late, the documents are already fully finalized.”
Emily walked slowly toward the massive oak desk, keeping her gun aimed directly at David.
She snatched the thick stack of papers from the desk and tore them entirely in half.
“The money belongs to the charities father chose, not to you two parasites.”
David laughed loudly, a hollow, terrifying sound that echoed in the chamber.
“You think those pieces of paper matter at all?”
He pressed a small, hidden button on the inside of his suit jacket.
Suddenly, the heavy oak doors behind them slammed violently shut and locked automatically.
Thick steel shutters slammed down over the large windows of the office.
The room was instantly sealed completely tight like a massive metal vault.
A sharp, hissing sound began echoing from the air conditioning vents above their heads.
A faint, sweet-smelling white gas started rapidly filling the enclosed space.
Judge Harrison began to panic violently, clawing at his own throat.
“David, you promised I would be completely safe!” the judge screamed in horror.
David adjusted his tie and casually pulled two gas masks from his briefcase for him and Chloe.
“I lied, Your Honor.”
He looked directly at Emily, his eyes cold and devoid of any human soul.
“This heavy nerve gas will stop your heart in exactly three minutes.”
Arthur rushed to the steel shutters, hitting them frantically with the butt of his heavy rifle.
It was absolutely useless; the metal was several inches thick.
Emily felt her vision start to heavily blur as the toxic white gas filled her lungs.
She collapsed onto her hands and knees, fighting desperately for one last clean breath.
Maria was already unconscious on the beautiful Persian rug.
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As the darkness finally began to claim her, Emily heard the sound of heavy boots kicking the door.
But it wasn't the police who broke the lock; it was a man wearing the exact same orange uniform Maria wore.
