Chapter 10 - The Arrival of the Storm
The glass side panels of the French doors shattered inward in a violent shower of crystalline diamonds as two State Troopers in dark blue uniforms kicked through the frames.
"DON'T MOVE! ON THE GROUND!"
Muzzle lights strobed through the room, blinding red and white beams cutting through the white plaster dust still settling from the bullet hole in the ceiling.
Daniel slowly raised his hands, keeping his body positioned over the bound woman on the floor.
"I am the homeowner, Daniel Vance," he announced clearly, his voice steady and calm despite the weapons trained on his chest. "The suspect, Evelyn Vance, is secured on the floor. She is armed with an illegitimately obtained revolver on the rug to my left. My children are in the room with me. We are unarmed."
The lead trooper, a tall man with a silver mustache and a tactical vest bearing the name OFFICER HARRIS, stepped through the broken door frame, his sidearm lowered slightly as his eyes scanned the room.
He saw the white plaster dust, the bullet hole in the ceiling, the brass anchor paperweight, the bruised boy standing in the doorway holding an iron poker, and the woman bound with a leather belt on the floor.
"Secure her," Harris ordered his partner.
The second trooper knelt swiftly, pulling Evelyn up by her upper arms. She groaned in pain, her face covered in plaster dust and wool fibers, her eyes wild, unfocused, and terrified. She was dragged out toward the hallway, her riding boots dragging uselessly along the carpet.
Officer Harris holstered his weapon, stepping over to Daniel. He looked down at the bruised boy standing near the door.
"You okay, son?" Harris asked gently.
Leo didn't answer. He dropped the iron poker, taking three slow steps toward his father, wrapping his small arms tightly around Daniel’s waist once again.
Daniel scooped his son up into his arms, holding him tightly against his chest, feeling the boy’s heart beating against his own ribcage.
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"The hard drive in her car contains the rest of the financial evidence for the District Attorney," Daniel told the officer, his voice exhausted but firm. "And my daughter is upstairs in her crib. She needs a medical check."
Harris nodded, pulling a small silver radio from his shoulder strap. "Dispatch, this is Unit 4. We have the primary suspect in custody at the Willow Creek residence. Requesting an EMS unit for a juvenile male with facial contusions and a welfare check on an infant. Situation secured."
