Chapter 12 - BULLETS IN THE RAIN
Heavy pounding echoed against the double doors of the penthouse suite.
“FBI! Open the door!” a voice roared from the hallway.
Vincent backed away toward the private elevator.
His hand frantically punched the override code on the digital pad.
“You think handcuffs are going to hold me, Claire?” Vincent snarled, pulling a heavy silver pistol from his waistband.
“I’ll be out on bail before your deposition is even typed.”
Before Vincent could step into the elevator car, Marcus groaned from the floor.
Marcus rolled over, raised his Glock with shaking hands, and fired!
The bullet struck Vincent’s right shoulder.
Vincent screamed in agony, dropping his pistol onto the marble floor.
He stumbled backward into the elevator car just as the doors slid shut.
Marcus struggled to his feet, coughing up blood.
“Go!” Marcus shouted at me.
“The stairs! Head down to the lobby before they lock down the building!”
“What about you, Marcus?” I asked.
“I’ll hold the door for the feds,” Marcus panted, leaning against the desk.
“Just... make sure Vincent doesn't walk away from this.”
I nodded once, turned, and bolted toward the emergency stairwell.
The concrete stairs felt endless as I sprinted downward.
By the time I reached the ground floor, the hotel lobby was a war zone.
Federal agents in tactical gear held patrons and staff against the walls.
Flashing red and blue lights illuminated the grand marble pillars.
I pulled my hood up over my head, keeping my head down, blending into the chaos of escaping civilians.
I slipped out through the side revolving doors into the cool Chicago rain.
The rain washed over my face, cool and cleansing.
Across the street, standing beside an unmarked federal cruiser, stood a senior agent holding a clipboard.
I walked over to him calmly.
“Agent Miller?” I asked.
The agent looked down at me, his eyes sharp.
“Who’s asking?”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my identification card, along with the master decryption key to Vincent’s private servers.
May you like
“My name is Claire Moretti,” I said steadily.
“And I’m ready to give you my formal statement.”
