Chapter 18
The sound of the police helicopter grew deafeningly loud, its massive searchlight piercing through the broken skylights, illuminating the dust and smoke inside the depot. Laura refused to stay behind while the medics arrived. She pushed herself up, using a rusted train wheel for support, and followed Harlan toward the rear exit of the building.
They stepped out into the cool evening air. The sun had completely dipped below the horizon, leaving the sky a deep, bruised purple.
High above them, perched on an old, rusted iron crane structure that stretched out over the abandoned train tracks, was Vincent. The police helicopter hovered fifty feet away, its searchlight pinning him in a blinding white beam of light.
"Drop your weapon, Vincent! It's over!" a voice boomed from the helicopter’s loudspeaker. "There is no escape!"
Vincent looked wild, his hair disheveled, his expensive coat stained with grease and dirt. He was holding his gun tightly, pointing it erratically at the helicopter, then down at the sea of tactical officers surrounding the base of the crane. He was a cornered animal, realizing his empire had collapsed in a single afternoon.
Suddenly, Vincent’s eyes locked onto Laura as she emerged from the depot building. Even from this distance, his hatred was palpable. He realized that this ordinary bank manager, a woman he had never even met until today, had completely ruined him.
"You!" he screamed over the roar of the helicopter blades. "This is your fault!"
He raised his gun, aiming directly down at Laura.
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Harlan instantly reacted, tackling Laura to the ground behind a concrete barrier just as Vincent fired two desperate shots in their direction. The bullets pinged loudly off the stone, sending sparks into the darkness.
"Sniper, take the shot!" Harlan roared into his radio. "Take him down!"
