Chapter 5 - THE STANDOFF IN THE RAIN
"Hello, Nathaniel," Richard said smoothly. He looked exactly like the man on the tape, just older, with silver hair and a tailored Italian suit. "You're home early."
Nathaniel stepped in front of Grace, shielding her.
"Where is the boy?" Richard asked. Two armed men stood behind him.
"If you touch him, Richard, I will tear you apart with my bare hands," Nathaniel growled.
Richard chuckled. "I have no interest in the boy. Hand over the tape, Nathaniel. You marry Victoria, our companies merge next month, and this unfortunate history remains buried under the marble where it belongs."
"You murdered my mother."
"It was business," Richard said coldly. "She refused to sell the Caldwell shares. I had no choice. Now, the tape."
Suddenly, a massive crash echoed from the courtyard outside the laundry room windows.
Blue and red lights flashed through the rain-streaked glass.
Sirens wailed.
Richard’s smug expression faltered. "What is that?"
Nathaniel smiled. "You think I didn't make a phone call while we were walking through the tunnel? I own half the telecommunications infrastructure in this state, Richard. I don't need local cops. I called the federal director."
A loudspeaker boomed from outside. "FBI! SURROUND THE BUILDING! DROP YOUR WEAPONS!"
Richard’s eyes went wide. He aimed the gun at Nathaniel’s chest.
"I'll kill you first!"
Grace didn't think. She reacted.
She grabbed a heavy, industrial bottle of bleach from the laundry shelf and hurled it directly at Richard’s face.
It smashed against his forehead. The heavy plastic burst, liquid splashing into his eyes.
Richard screamed, dropping the gun and clawing at his face.
Nathaniel lunged. He tackled one of the armed guards through the wooden door while the other hesitated, blinded by the sudden chaos.
Federal agents smashed through the back doors, assault rifles raised.
"Down! Get down!"
Grace scrambled backward, grabbing the dropped gun and sliding it across the floor away from Richard.
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Nathaniel stood up slowly, wiping blood from his lip, as agents swarmed the room, pinning Richard and his men to the floor.
The nightmare was finally cracking.
