Chapter 5 - The Trap Springs
The kitchen went dead silent. The only sound was the sizzling of bacon fat in the skillet.
Brenda froze, her spatula hovering over the pan, her face going pale.
Vance’s smile twitched, but he maintained his composure. He stood up slowly, towering over the table, his broad shoulders blocking the light from the window.
“Well, it was a sudden thing,” Vance chuckled, taking a step toward me. “We got married in Maryland back in July. Your parents gave us their blessing before they left for their trip to Florida.”
“Florida?” I raised an eyebrow, taking another slow sip of coffee. “Yesterday Brenda told me they were in New Mexico with Uncle Thomas’s son.”
Brenda dropped her spatula with a loud CLANG against the stove.
“I… I got confused yesterday, Shawn!” Brenda stammered frantically, coming over to grab my arm. “They went to New Mexico first, and then they drove down to Florida! You know how Dad loves road trips!”
“Right,” I nodded slowly, looking at Brenda’s trembling hands. “Dad loves road trips. Especially at eighty-two years old with severe arthritis in his knees.”
Vance stepped between Brenda and me, his eyes narrowing into slits. The friendly act was dropping fast.
“Look, Shawn,” Vance said, his voice dropping an octave into a low, threatening growl. “You’ve been gone for twelve years. You didn't care enough to visit. Brenda stayed here and took care of this place. Whatever arrangements your parents made with us before they left is our business.”
“Arrangements?” I asked softly. “Like selling the farm to a highway commercial developer for eight hundred thousand dollars?”
Vance’s hand instinctively moved toward his waist coat. “How do you know about that?”
“I know a lot of things, Vance,” I said, setting my coffee cup down on the table with a firm thud. “I know you served five years at SCI Camp Hill for aggravated assault and land fraud. I know you’ve been intercepting my monthly two-thousand-dollar checks. And I know my parents haven't left this town in four months.”
Brenda let out a sharp gasp, staggering back against the counter.
Vance didn't waste another second. His face contorted into pure rage. He reached into his jacket, pulling a heavy black snub-nosed revolver from his shoulder holster.
“You arrogant little bastard!” Vance roared, aiming the barrel straight at my chest. “You think you’re smart coming back here acting like a big shot?! You’re not leaving this house alive!”
“Vance, no!” Brenda screamed, covering her face.
I didn't flinch. I didn't step back. I simply pulled my phone from my pocket and pressed a single button on the screen.
Outside the house, the quiet morning air was shattered by the roaring engines of three black suburban SUVs tearing up the gravel driveway.
CRASH!
The front door was kicked off its hinges with explosive force.
“TACTICAL SECURITY! DROP THE WEAPON! DROP IT NOW!”
Four heavily armed men in black tactical gear, helmets, and assault rifles burst into the living room, their laser sights painting bright red dots across Vance’s chest and forehead. Marcus led the stack, his rifle trained dead-center on Vance’s face.
Vance froze, his eyes wide in absolute shock, his jaw hanging open as he stared at the professional strike team surrounding him.
“Drop the gun, Vance,” I said quietly, stepping around him. “Or my security team will end you before you can pull that trigger.”
Vance trembled, his forehead breaking out in a cold sweat. Looking at the four red laser dots burning on his chest, he slowly lowered his revolver and dropped it onto the linoleum floor.
Marcus stepped forward instantly, kicking the revolver away, driving his tactical boot into the back of Vance’s knee, and slamming the criminal face-down onto the floor, pulling his arms behind his back in heavy steel handcuffs.
Brenda fell to her knees, weeping hysterically, throwing her hands over her head. “Shawn, please! Please don't kill us! It was his idea! Vance made me do it!”
May you like
I didn't even look at her.
“Marcus,” I commanded sharply. “Get the crowbars from the truck. We have people to rescue.”
