Chapter 3 - The Ambush
"We have to move right now!" Mike yelled, grabbing Elena by the arm to help her stand.
Laura scooped Caleb into her arms, completely ignoring the burning pain in her shoulders.
They ran toward the back door of the house just as the front windows shattered from heavy gunfire.
The deafening sound of bullets tearing through the drywall echoed in the small kitchen.
Mike kicked open the back door and pushed Elena out into the overgrown yard.
They scrambled over a rusted chain-link fence, tearing their clothes on the sharp metal.
Laura handed Caleb over the fence first, then vaulted over just as a man stepped onto the back porch.
The man had a distinct green snake tattooed on his right hand.
He raised a suppressed pistol and fired twice into the dirt near Laura's feet.
Mike returned fire, forcing the tattooed man to duck behind the doorframe.
"Keep running toward the alley!" Mike ordered, providing cover fire.
They sprinted down the narrow, trash-filled alleyway until they reached the next street.
A rusty pickup truck was idling near a stop sign, its driver looking at his phone.
Mike flashed his badge, pulled the terrified driver out of the truck, and threw him a fifty-dollar bill.
"Police emergency, your truck will be at the station tomorrow," Mike shouted.
They all piled into the stolen truck just as two of Vincent's men rounded the corner.
Mike floored the accelerator, the tires screeching loudly against the pavement as they escaped.
Elena was breathing heavily in the passenger seat, clutching her ribs in pain.
"Did they get the key?" Mike asked, constantly checking the rearview mirror.
Elena shook her head slowly.
"I gave the key to Caleb right before I passed out," she whispered.
Laura turned around to look at the boy sitting quietly in the backseat.
"Caleb, where is the key?" Laura asked gently.
Caleb looked down at his dusty sneakers.
"I was scared I would lose it," he admitted softly.
"So I put it inside the pickle jar before I left the house."
Laura's heart stopped beating in her chest.
She had left the heavy glass pickle jar sitting on the coffee table inside her locked office.
"The key is at the bank," Laura realized aloud.
Mike slammed his fist violently against the steering wheel.
Suddenly, Mike's police radio crackled to life on his belt.
"All units, be advised, we have an active Amber Alert and kidnapping warrant issued."
The dispatcher's voice was crystal clear in the quiet truck cab.
"Suspect is Laura Bennett, bank manager at Ridge Community Bank, armed and dangerous."
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Laura stared at Mike in absolute shock.
They had just framed her for kidnapping the boy she was trying to save.
