Chapter 7 - Behind Iron Bars
I drove through the city like a man possessed, burning through red lights and weaving through afternoon traffic while dialing Detective Ortiz’s direct emergency line on my car’s Bluetooth.
“Ortiz! Where is the tactical detail assigned to Claire?!” I yelled into the mic.
“They’re with her at Riverside Park, Daniel! What’s wrong?”
“It’s a trap! Eleanor orchestrated Claire’s escape! She has another team on the ground!”
At the north end of Riverside Park, Claire was pushing Maya in a bright blue stroller near the stone fountain. Fifty yards behind her walked two plainclothes officers assigned by the police department.
Suddenly, a black delivery van mounted the pedestrian curb at high speed, screeching to a halt right between Claire and the two officers.
Four men in dark tactical gear poured out of the side door. One officer drew his weapon, but a flashbang grenade detonated at his feet, blinding him and sending a deafening pop echoing through the trees.
Claire screamed, grabbing Maya out of the stroller and sprinting toward the riverbank.
“Grab the kid!” a voice barked from inside the smoke.
Claire ran as fast as her frail legs could carry her, her heart hammering against her ribs, but the sound of heavy boots was closing in fast. She reached the edge of the stone embankment overlooking the muddy river currents.
“End of the line, lady!” a masked man growled, reaching out a gloved hand to grab Maya’s jacket.
BANG!
A sharp gunshot cracked through the air. The masked man collapsed onto the pavement, clutching his shattered shoulder.
I hit the brakes on my SUV, swinging the heavy vehicle directly into the path of the delivery van, crushing its front bumper. I sprang from the driver’s seat holding a licensed sidearm I had carried every day since Claire vanished two years ago.
Detective Ortiz’s squad cars roared into the park from three directions, sirens blaring, surrounding the remaining attackers before they could recover.
I ran to the riverbank, dropping my weapon onto the grass, and threw my arms around Claire and Maya, pulling them both hard against my chest.
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Claire was sobbing hysterically, burying her face in my neck. “Daniel... they tried to take her again... they tried to take her...”
“It’s over, sweetie,” I whispered, tears spilling down my own cheeks as I kissed the top of my daughter’s head. “It’s over. They’re never touching you again.”
