Larkin's escape route was sealed. Federal agents incoming! Someone shouted from the perimeter. Multiple units! Lights and sirens!
Councilman Bryce emerged from the main building, his polished facade cracking. Everyone stay calm. This can still be managed. A shot cracked across the yard. Daniel providing cover fire from the maintenance shed.
The private contractors scattered for defensive positions. Return fire hammered the shed's metal walls. Nia burst through the garage's side door as two deputies rushed to stop her. She dropped the first with a shot to the leg, disarmed the second with a precise strike to the wrist. No killing.
Just control. Mom! Tessa called from behind a tool cabinet. Stay down! Nia moved to cover her daughter as bullets punched through windows.
More sirens wailed in the distance. The body-cam audio kept playing, drowning out Bryce's attempts to restore order. Two more deputies surrendered, placing their weapons on the ground. Nia cut Tessa's restraints. Can you move?
Yeah. I memorized their radio codes, got the gate frequencies, figured you'd come. Pride surged through Nia's chest. Her daughter had stayed strong, stayed smart. An engine roared outside.
Larkin had reached a vehicle and was trying to ram through the dead gate. The metal barrier held. It's over, Wade! Bryce shouted. We need to negotiate.
Shut up! Larkin abandoned the vehicle and ran back toward the garage, pistol raised. His carefully maintained mask had shattered completely. Nia pushed Tessa behind a heavy workbench. Daniel's covering fire kept the remaining contractors pinned down.
Through the windows, she glimpsed multiple vehicles approaching on the main road. Evelyn's witness convoy arriving right on schedule. Larkin burst through the garage door, wild-eyed and sweating. His weapon swung toward them as federal sirens screamed closer. " You think you've won? "