Chapter 9 - THE ROOFTOP STANDOFF
They stumbled up the final flights of stairs, kicking open the heavy roof access door. The cold night air of New York City whipped around them. Below, the wail of dozens of police sirens was growing deafening. Red and blue lights painted the surrounding skyscrapers. The FBI had received the files and mobilized a massive strike force.
But Briggs wasn't finished. Bleeding from his face, his armor cracked, the rogue Marshal kicked the roof door open behind them. He raised his weapon, pointing it directly at Maya’s head.
"You ruined everything," Briggs spat, his eyes wild with desperation. "A billion-dollar empire, burned to the ground because of a minimum-wage maid who couldn't look the other way."
"She has more integrity in her torn apron than you've had your entire pathetic life," Vance snarled, stepping in front of Maya to shield her.
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"Then die with her," Briggs said, his finger tightening on the trigger.
Before he could fire, the deafening roar of a twin-engine FBI tactical helicopter crested the edge of the roof, its massive spotlight blinding Briggs. The downdraft knocked the rogue marshal off balance. A sniper in the chopper took the shot. Briggs dropped his weapon, falling backward onto the tar-paper roof, neutralized.
