Chapter 7 - The Lockout
"We have a warrant out for Miller's arrest," Detective Ruiz said, her voice firm and reassuring. "I’ve placed a marked police cruiser outside your house, Harper. You and your sister are under twenty-four-hour protection until we locate him."
"Why me?" Harper asked, her hand trembling as she stared at her name on the paper. "I didn't even know Pete was involved!"
"Pete Miller was using Mercer's financial corruption as a cover," Ruiz explained. "Mercer was so busy hiding his own embezzlement that he never paid attention to what was happening in the basement. But when you refused to let Mercer take Noah's backpack on Tuesday, you brought the police into the building. You brought me into the building. You ruined his entire operation."
After Ruiz left, the afternoon dragged on with excruciating slowness. Rain continued to pour outside, rattling against the windowpanes.
By 7:00 PM, Clara had cooked a warm chicken dinner, trying desperately to keep Harper’s mind off the threat outside. The marked police car sat quietly at the curb under the streetlight, its engine idling occasionally.
At 8:30 PM, Harper’s phone rang. It was Rachel Bennett.
"Ms. Hadley!" Rachel’s voice was panicked, punctuated by the sound of rushing wind and rain. "Are you home?!"
Harper stood up instantly. "Rachel? What's wrong? Where are you?"
"I’m at the school!" Rachel cried. "I came in to finish handing over the master keys to the new administrative team. Noah was with me—he wanted to pick up his art project from his locker before school opens on Monday!"
Harper felt a cold wave of dread wash over her body. "Rachel, get Noah and leave the building immediately! Pete Miller—"
"He's here, Ms. Hadley!" Rachel screamed.
A sudden, sharp metallic crash echoed through the phone line, followed by Noah’s terrified scream.
"Rachel!" Harper yelled. "Rachel!"
"He locked the main service doors from the inside!" Rachel’s frantic voice came back, gasping for air. "He cut the main power! The backup generators kicked in, but the magnetic doors are sealed! He’s in the subterranean wing! He has a gun!"
CLICK.
The phone line went dead.
Harper didn't hesitate. She threw on her coat, ignoring Clara’s screams for her to stop.
"Harper! No! You can't go there! Call the police!" Clara shouted, grabbing her arm.
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"I am calling the police!" Harper yelled, running out the front door into the pouring rain. "Tell the officer in the driveway to follow me! Noah and Rachel are trapped inside!"
Harper sprinted to her car, jammed the key into the ignition, and tore away from the curb, her headlights slicing through the black, rain-soaked night.
