Chapter 16 - Showdown at Hangar 4
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Rain was lashed by fierce lake winds as we arrived at Hangar 4 at the Gary/Chicago International Airport.
A sleek Gulfstream private jet sat idling on the wet tarmac, its jet engines whining loudly in the dark.
Parked near the open boarding stairs was a silver luxury sedan.
Standing beside the stairs, wearing a fur coat and holding a leather handbag, was my mother, Evelyn Carter. Beside her stood my father, Richard—who had been broken out of transport custody by bribed private guards two hours prior.
They were about to board the plane and escape international jurisdiction forever.
I stepped out of our armored SUV alone, walking steadily across the tarmac into the bright floodlights of the hangar.
My combat boots splashed through water puddles. My rifle was strapped across my chest.
"Going somewhere?" I called out, my voice cutting cleanly through the roar of the jet engines.
My parents spun around in shock.
My father’s face turned bright red with animal fury. He pulled a silver revolver from his coat pocket, pointing it directly at my chest with shaking hands.
"You again!" Richard screamed, his voice wild with desperation. "You just couldn't stay away, could you?! You ruined my company! You ruined my life!"
"You ruined your own life, Dad," I said calmly, taking two steps forward, completely unfazed by the gun pointed at me. "It's over. The FBI has seized every offshore account. The jet isn't taking off."
"Shut up!" Evelyn shrieked, backing toward the stairs. "Shoot her, Richard! Shoot her now so we can leave!"
"Put the gun down, Richard," I commanded, my voice dropping into a hard, military tone. "You're surrounded."
Out of the surrounding darkness, four heavy tactical vehicles tore onto the tarmac, their high-beam lights blinding my parents, locking them in a cage of white light.
"Drop your weapon!" a loud speaker boomed from an armored state patrol vehicle. "Drop the gun now!"
Richard looked at the blinding lights, then at his wife, and finally at me. He looked broken, defeated, and completely hollow.
May you like
His hand shook violently. Tears of rage spilled down his cheeks.
Slowly, his fingers loosened, and the silver revolver clattered onto the wet asphalt.
