Chapter 10: The Siege at the Chapel
Chapter 10: The Siege at the Chapel
The explosion echoed across the valley.
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Ancient stained-glass windows shattered into thousands of glittering fragments.
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The old chapel trembled beneath the force of the blast.
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Sophia screamed.
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Emily immediately threw herself over her daughter, shielding the little girl with her own body.
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Alexander instinctively covered them both.
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Daniel drew his pistol.
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"Everyone stay down!"
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Dust filled the sanctuary.
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Pieces of stone crashed onto the wooden pews.
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The caretaker stumbled backward, gripping the wall for support.
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His face had gone completely white.
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"What was that?"
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Daniel moved cautiously toward one of the broken windows.
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He peered outside.
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Then his expression hardened.
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"We have company."
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Four black SUVs surrounded the chapel.
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Their engines continued running.
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Eight men dressed in tactical clothing spread across the churchyard.
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Each carried military-grade rifles.
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Their movements were disciplined.
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Professional.
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Alexander recognized the formation immediately.
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"They're former private military contractors."
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Daniel nodded.
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"They know exactly what they're doing."
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One of the men stepped forward holding a loudspeaker.
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His face remained hidden behind dark sunglasses.
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He spoke calmly.
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"Mr. Sterling."
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"We're not here to hurt your family."
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"We only want what belongs to us."
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Alexander looked toward the steel safe.
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The will.
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The videotape.
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His father's evidence.
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That was their target.
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Daniel quickly checked his pistol.
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One full magazine.
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A spare magazine in his jacket.
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Not nearly enough.
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He looked toward Alexander.
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"We have to buy time."
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Alexander nodded.
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"Call the state police."
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Daniel pulled out his phone.
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No signal.
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He frowned.
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"They're jamming communications."
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Alexander's eyes narrowed.
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"So they planned this."
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Outside.
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The man with the loudspeaker smiled faintly.
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He pressed a small button.
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A drone slowly rose into the air behind him.
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Its camera locked onto the chapel.
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Inside.
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Daniel spotted it through the shattered window.
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"They're watching everything."
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Alexander carefully folded his father's original will and slipped it inside his jacket.
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He handed the videotape to Emily.
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"If anything happens..."
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"...protect this."
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Emily stared at him.
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"What are you saying?"
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"I'm saying..."
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"...this evidence matters more than my company."
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"More than my fortune."
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"It tells the truth."
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Emily gripped the videotape tightly.
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"I won't let anyone take it."
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Sophia tugged gently on Alexander's sleeve.
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"Daddy."
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He knelt beside her.
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"Yes, sweetheart?"
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"Are the bad people here because of Grandpa?"
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Alexander looked into her innocent blue eyes.
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"They're here because some people are afraid of the truth."
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Sophia frowned thoughtfully.
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"My teacher says the truth always wins."
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Alexander smiled.
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"Your teacher is very wise."
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Outside.
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The tactical team slowly advanced.
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One man carried a heavy battering ram.
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Another prepared flash grenades.
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The leader raised his hand.
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Three.
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Two.
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One.
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The front doors exploded inward.
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Daniel fired immediately.
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The first bullet struck the battering ram, forcing the attackers backward.
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Wood splintered across the entrance.
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The armed men retreated behind stone pillars.
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The firefight had begun.
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Alexander helped the caretaker move Sophia and Emily toward the underground cellar.
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"You'll be safer below."
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Emily shook her head.
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"I'm not leaving you."
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Alexander gently held her shoulders.
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"You have the videotape."
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"And Sophia."
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"Right now..."
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"...they need you more than I do."
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Emily's eyes filled with tears.
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She knew he was right.
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Sophia wrapped her little arms around Alexander's neck.
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"Please come back."
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Alexander kissed her forehead.
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"I always will."
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Daniel reloaded quickly.
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"They're splitting up."
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"Four coming through the front."
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"Three moving around the back."
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Alexander glanced around the chapel.
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Old stone walls.
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Heavy wooden pews.
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Narrow entrances.
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The building itself offered some protection.
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But not forever.
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"They'll breach within minutes."
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Suddenly...
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The caretaker spoke.
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"There is another exit."
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Everyone turned toward him.
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"What?"
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He pointed toward the underground chamber.
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"Edward built an escape tunnel."
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"It leads to the river."
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Daniel's eyes widened.
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"How far?"
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"About half a mile."
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Alexander looked at Emily.
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"You take Sophia."
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Emily immediately shook her head.
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"No."
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"We leave together."
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Alexander smiled sadly.
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"I need to slow them down."
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Emily grabbed his hand.
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"I already lost you once."
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"I'm not doing it again."
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Their eyes met.
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Neither wanted to let go.
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Outside.
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The attackers prepared another assault.
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Their leader spoke into his radio.
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"The package is still inside."
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A familiar voice answered through the earpiece.
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"Do whatever it takes."
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"Destroy the chapel if necessary."
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The leader nodded.
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"Understood."
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Although the voice had been electronically altered...
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One sentence escaped before the transmission ended.
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"Mrs. Sterling will handle the rest."
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Alexander heard it through the shattered doorway.
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His blood froze.
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Victoria.
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Even under federal supervision...
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She was still giving orders.
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Daniel suddenly looked toward the hillside.
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A faint sound echoed through the valley.
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Engines.
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Many engines.
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The attackers heard them too.
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Their leader turned sharply.
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"What is that?"
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A convoy of black armored SUVs appeared over the ridge.
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More than twenty vehicles.
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Each flying the Sterling Global Security insignia.
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Daniel smiled for the first time since the attack began.
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"They're ours."
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Alexander frowned.
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"I never called them."
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Daniel looked equally confused.
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"I didn't either."
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The convoy stopped.
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Doors flew open.
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Dozens of heavily armed security officers poured out.
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Leading them...
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Was a tall woman in a navy suit.
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She removed her sunglasses.
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Alexander stared in disbelief.
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"Aunt Catherine?"
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Emily looked equally shocked.
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"I thought she lived in Switzerland."
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The elegant woman smiled as she approached the chapel.
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Then she looked directly at Alexander.
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"I've been waiting twenty-five years for this day."
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Before Alexander could respond...
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She revealed a gold badge from the United States Department of Justice.
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Then she spoke the words that changed everything.
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"Alexander..."
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"I'm not here as your aunt."
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May you like
"I'm here as the federal prosecutor assigned to investigate your father's murder."
End of Chapter 10
