Chapter 8 - The Desperate Ploy
Laura looked down at Mike, who was bleeding heavily onto the polished marble floor.
She looked at Elena, who was crying silently while staring down the barrel of a shotgun.
Laura slowly raised the black ledger into the air.
"Let them go, Vincent," Laura said, her voice completely steady.
"You can have the book, just let the mother and the detective walk out of here."
Vincent laughed loudly, his arrogant confidence fully restored.
"You are not in a position to negotiate, sweetheart," Vincent sneered.
He gestured for the tattooed man to step forward and take the book.
As the man reached out his hand, Laura did something entirely unexpected.
She threw the ledger as hard as she could toward the front glass windows of the bank.
The heavy book sailed through the air and smashed into the security alarm panel on the wall.
Vincent screamed in frustration, distracted for just a fraction of a second.
Elena used the distraction to grab the dropped shotgun by the barrel and yank it downward.
The weapon discharged harmlessly into the ceiling, raining plaster down on them.
Laura pulled the fire extinguisher from the wall bracket and sprayed it directly into the tattooed man's face.
He dropped his pistol, coughing and clawing blindly at his burning eyes.
Mike reached over with his good arm and grabbed the dropped pistol from the floor.
He aimed it at Vincent's kneecap and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Vincent collapsed to the floor, screaming in absolute agony as his leg shattered.
The thick chemical cloud from the fire extinguisher filled the entire lobby.
Laura ran to the wall and picked up the black ledger from the floor.
"We need to go, right now!" Laura yelled, helping Elena stand up.
They grabbed Mike by his jacket and dragged him toward the shattered front doors.
Sirens were already wailing in the distance, growing louder by the second.
"Vance's corrupt cops are going to be here first," Mike warned, gritting his teeth through the pain.
"They won't let us leave this perimeter alive."
Laura pulled the USB drive from her pocket, an idea forming in her mind.
"I have the bank's emergency laptop in my car," Laura said quickly.
"If I can get a cellular connection, I can email these files directly to the FBI regional director."
They stumbled out into the cold night air just as three police cruisers skidded into the parking lot.
Deputy Chief Vance stepped out of the lead car with his weapon drawn.
"Drop your weapons and get on the ground!" Vance shouted over a megaphone.
They were completely surrounded by heavily armed, corrupt officers.
Vance walked forward with a cruel smile, holding a pair of handcuffs.
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"You put up a good fight, Harlan," Vance mocked.
Suddenly, a terrifyingly loud hum vibrated through the air above them.
