Chapter 5 - THE ESCAPE
“I already spoke to the officers at the hospital,” I said, keeping my voice level, though every instinct screamed that these men were not here to help.
“This is a different jurisdiction,” the second man grunted, stepping into the doorway to block my exit. “Let’s take a ride.”
I saw the glint of a zip-tie hanging from the taller detective's back pocket. Cops didn't use plastic restraints for a friendly interview. They were here to clean up Marcus’s mess. They knew I was at the apartment, which meant they knew I might have found what they were looking for.
“Sure,” I nodded, turning around to grab my jacket from the counter.
As I reached for the coat, I grabbed a heavy brass candlestick holder Sarah kept on the dining table. I spun around and swung it with everything I had, catching the taller man across the jaw. He went down hard, crashing into the shattered coffee table.
The second man lunged for his gun, but I didn't hesitate. I threw my body weight into him, driving us both through the apartment door and into the hallway. We grappled fiercely, his hands clawing at my throat. I headbutted him, a sickening crunch echoing in the corridor, and shoved him down the short flight of stairs.
I didn’t wait to see if he got back up. I sprinted out the back exit, vaulting over the alley fence and sprinting into the humid Miami morning. I was running for my life, but more importantly, I was running for hers. If they had sent men for me, it meant Sarah was still a threat. She was completely defenseless in that ICU bed.
I flagged down a passing taxi, throwing a hundred-dollar bill at the driver. “Jackson Memorial. Step on it.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was Marcus.
May you like
I stared at the screen, a cold, violent rage replacing the fear. I answered the call, keeping my breathing completely silent.
“Charles,” Marcus’s voice was unnervingly calm. “I hear you’re in Miami. A tragedy about Sarah. You really should have stayed in Chicago, buddy. Bring me the drive, and I’ll make sure her life support stays plugged in.”
