Chapter 11 - THE DUEL IN THE DARK
The roar of the shotgun echoed through the narrow tunnel like rolling thunder.
Lead pellets tore into the heavy iron gate, sparking violently against the steel mesh.
Declan threw his weight against the gate, slamming it shut.
He threw the heavy manual deadbolt into place.
Through the iron bars, Jonathan appeared twenty feet away, racking another twelve-gauge shell into the chamber.
His face was contorted with madness, his bandaged jaw slick with blood.
"Open the gate, Declan!" Jonathan screamed, his voice cracking against the concrete walls.
"You think Sarah Vance gives a damn about you?"
"The moment she has those ledgers, she destroys the Hayes name to build her political career!"
"We're brothers!"
Declan stood on the secure side of the iron gate.
His eyes were completely calm.
"You poisoned our father, Jonathan."
"You stopped being my brother the day you put arsenic in his tea."
Jonathan raised the shotgun, aiming directly through the bars at Declan’s chest.
"Then die with him!"
Before Jonathan could pull the trigger, three bright red laser dots converged on his chest.
From the shadows behind Declan, four tactical federal marshals stepped forward, their assault rifles raised.
"FEDERAL AGENTS! DROP THE WEAPON!" a commanding voice barked.
Jonathan froze.
He looked at the three red dots dancing over his sternum.
He looked through the gate at the federal agents.
A desperate, cornered animal look flared in his eyes.
Slowly, his fingers loosened on the shotgun.
The weapon clattered onto the wet railroad ties between his boots.
"Hands behind your head! On your knees!" the marshal ordered.
Two federal agents keyed the electronic override, opening the gate.
They tackled Jonathan to the ground, slamming his face into the wet concrete and wrenching his arms behind his back.
Steel handcuffs snapped around his wrists with sharp, final clicks.
Jonathan twisted his neck, glaring up at Declan through the mud.
"You've ruined us, Declan!" Jonathan spat, blood bubbling from his split lips.
"Marcus Vance will wipe Hayes Maritime off the map by noon!"
Declan looked down at his brother with pure pity.
"Marcus Vance is already finished, Jonathan."
"He just doesn't know it yet."
Declan turned away.
He walked down the bright, clean corridor of the federal sub-basement.
Norah was waiting by the elevator doors, her chest heaving as she held the three binders.
Her eyes searched his face, checking for wounds, checking for blood.
When she saw he was unharmed, her knees finally gave out.
Declan caught her before she hit the linoleum floor.
He pulled her into his arms, lifting her against his chest as the elevator chimed.
Her hands gripped his leather jacket, her face buried into the curve of his neck.
"It’s over," she wept softly into his skin.
May you like
"Not quite," Declan whispered into her hair.
"We have one more meeting to attend."
