Chapter 20 - DUST BEFORE THE DAWNMidnight. The rain fell in heavy, rhythmic sheets over the city of Austin.
The hallways of the Austin Grand Hotel were quiet, lined with thick crimson carpet that muffled our footsteps. Mark and I stood outside Room 812, our coats drenched from the storm outside. Ray and four armed federal agents were positioned near the elevators and stairwell exits, waiting for my signal.
I knocked on the door: three short taps, followed by two heavy ones—the code specified in Harrison’s email.
A pause. Then, the sound of a safety chain sliding back.
The door swung open inches. Through the gap, a terrified pair of young eyes looked out at us.
“Chloe?” I asked gently, showing my hands empty. “My name is Thomas Bennett. I’m Lily’s grandfather. We’re here to take you home.”
Chloe’s breath hitched, and she opened the door completely. She was small, frail, wrapped in an oversized trench coat, holding a leather messenger bag close to her chest.
“Are they outside?” she whispered frantically. “Victor’s men… they followed me from the airport—”
Before she could finish her sentence, the fire alarm on the floor began to blare loudly!
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Red strobe lights flashed down the corridor. Down at the end of the hallway, the heavy fire doors swung open, and three men in raincoats stepped through—their hands tucked deep inside their jackets.
“Federal agents! Freeze!” Ray shouted from the elevator bay, drawing his weapon.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Silenced gunfire echoed down the hallway, shattering the wall lamps. The hotel corridor descended into tactical chaos as federal agents returned fire.
“Inside! Get inside!” Mark yelled, pulling Chloe back into Room 812 and slamming the door shut.
I turned the heavy deadbolt just as a bullet punched through the wooden door panel, showering splinters into the entryway.
“The fire escape!” I pointed toward the balcony window overlooking the alley below. “Mark, take Chloe down the fire ladder! I’ll hold the door!”
“Dad, no!” Mark grabbed my arm. “We go together!”
“I’m sixty-seven years old, Mark!” I roared over the sound of wood splintering under heavy kicks outside the door. “My job in this life is to protect my children and my grandchildren! Take her and GO!”
Mark locked eyes with me for a split second, a heavy understanding passing between us. He nodded, grabbed Chloe by the hand, and threw open the balcony glass door into the howling rainstorm.
May you like
The hotel room door burst inward with a loud crash.
I spun around, my .38 revolver leveled at the doorway, ready to take my final stand.
