Part 6
Laura stepped out of her office, locking the door securely behind her with Caleb inside. She motioned for Sarah to step into the adjacent hallway, away from the few remaining customers who were still shaken up by the earlier police presence.
"Sarah, I need you to listen to me very carefully," Laura said, her voice low and urgent. She grabbed Sarah's hands, looking directly into her eyes. "I have to leave for a little while. I am locking Caleb in my office. Under no circumstances are you to let anyone inside that room except for Detective Harlan when he returns."
Sarah’s eyes widened in panic. "Laura, what's going on? The police just dragged a man out of here. You can't just leave! What if that man’s friends come back?"
"That's exactly why I have to go," Laura said, her tone absolute. "If anyone comes asking for the boy, tell them the police took him. Lie. Do whatever you have to do to protect him. If Detective Harlan calls or comes back, tell him I went to Ironclad Storage. Tell him to look for Box 414. Do you have that?"
Sarah nodded slowly, swallowing hard. "Ironclad Storage. Box 414. Laura, please be careful. This is insane. You're a bank manager, not a cop."
"I'm a human being, Sarah. And there's a little boy in my office whose mother is about to be murdered," Laura said, her voice cracking with emotion.
She turned back to her office, unlocking it just enough to slip her hand inside to grab her purse, her car keys, the silver key, and the receipt. Caleb looked up at her from the couch, his face a mask of pure terror.
"Stay here, Caleb. Trust Sarah. I am going to find your mommy," Laura promised him, trying to force a reassuring smile onto her face.
May you like
She locked the door again, took a deep breath, and walked out of the bank's side exit into the blinding afternoon sun. She sprinted to her sedan, threw herself into the driver's seat, and started the engine. As she tore out of the parking lot, she looked in her rearview mirror and noticed a dark SUV pull out from the opposite side of the street, trailing two cars behind her.
Vincent’s friends were already watching.
