Chapter 13 - The Breach
Daniel reached the basement door.
Locked.
He entered his code.
Nothing.
He entered it again.
The panel flashed red.
“No!”
He kicked the door.
Upstairs, police surrounded the estate.
Emily could see them through exterior cameras.
Officers moved behind armored vehicles.
A tactical team approached the main entrance.
Daniel raced back upstairs.
He pushed furniture against the front door.
A massive antique cabinet.
Two chairs.
A marble side table.
It would not stop trained officers.
But panic had destroyed his reasoning.
“Daniel Blackwood!”
A voice boomed outside.
“Step away from all weapons and surrender!”
Daniel looked toward the security camera.
He knew Emily was watching.
“You ruined everything!”
Emily pressed the intercom.
“You tried to murder your wife and unborn child.”
“You ruined me!”
“No.”
Her voice stayed calm.
“You did that yourself.”
Daniel grabbed a fireplace poker.
Mara watched carefully.
“He has a weapon.”
Emily relayed the information through the emergency phone.
The dispatcher informed the officers.
Then the tactical team moved.
A heavy battering ram struck the front entrance.
Once.
Twice.
On the third impact, the doors burst inward.
Daniel retreated.
Armed officers entered.
“Drop the weapon!”
Daniel ran.
He crossed the foyer and disappeared toward the kitchen.
Three officers followed.
Emily switched cameras rapidly.
Kitchen.
Empty.
Pantry.
Empty.
Hallway.
Nothing.
“Where did he go?”
Mara pointed.
A basement camera showed movement.
Daniel had doubled back.
He was crawling toward a small ventilation window.
He smashed the glass with the fire poker.
Outside air rushed inside.
Daniel pushed one arm through.
The opening was too narrow.
“Police!”
Flashlights flooded the basement.
Daniel twisted around.
“Don’t move!”
He raised the poker.
“Drop it!”
Daniel hesitated.
For one terrifying second, Emily thought he would attack.
Instead, he threw the weapon.
Then he ran.
Three officers tackled him before he reached the stairs.
Daniel hit the concrete floor.
Handcuffs snapped around his wrists.
He screamed.
“You have no idea who I am!”
An officer pulled him upright.
“I know exactly who you are.”
Daniel struggled.
“My lawyers will destroy you.”
Nobody answered.
He was dragged upstairs.
Emily watched from the panic room.
The man who controlled everything now controlled nothing.
The officers forced him past the shattered chandelier.
Past the gasoline.
Past the office containing his secrets.
Daniel looked toward the hidden camera.
His eyes found Emily through the lens.
His expression promised hatred.
Emily felt nothing.
Not fear.
Not love.
Nothing.
The police commander reached the library.
He knocked on the panic-room door.
“Mrs. Blackwood?”
Emily froze.
“This is Lieutenant Harris.”
“The residence is secure.”
Mara checked the camera.
Uniformed officers stood outside.
Daniel was gone.
Emily finally released the lock.
The steel door opened.
May you like
Fresh air entered.
And for the first time in two days, Emily felt completely free.
