Part Two of the Story… 👇
The harsh blue light of the smartphone screen illuminated the tile floor where I lay bleeding. Damon Keller lunged forward to kick the device away, but the automated transmission protocol had already locked the encrypted channel to the regional dispatch server. 📱
My mother stepped back, her floral bathrobe brushing against the kitchen counter as realization finally pierced her cold denial. Vanessa let out a sharp gasp, covering her mouth with trembling hands as the gravity of the situation settled over the room.
Operating as an unbadged civilian contractor for the bureau had taught me one vital truth about modern law enforcement procedures. Every emergency ping routed through our secured network immediately triggered a high-priority dispatch protocol across multiple jurisdictions.
Damon snarled a curse, realizing his carefully constructed suburban life was crumbling into absolute ruin. He looked down at the blade in his hand, the steel gleaming under the harsh overhead fluorescent lights.
“You stupid idiot,” Damon hissed, his voice trembling with sudden, panicked rage. “You just ruined everything we built.”
My mother didn’t defend me, nor did she scold him for using the weapon. Instead, Linda Marlow whispered frantically about covering their tracks before the authorities arrived at the front door. 🚪
