Chapter 7 - The Final Siege of Liberty Grill
Driven into a state of blind, hysterical desperation, Julian Vance fled the Auditorium Theatre under the cover of a blinding torrential downpour.
He knew his bank accounts were frozen. He knew the Commission’s hitmen were combing the city for him. He had only one remaining chance at survival: retrieve Thomas Bennett’s master drive from the Liberty Grill before Everett’s team secured it, and trade it directly to the FBI for federal protection.
At 11:30 PM, three black tactical vans crashed through the front glass windows of the Liberty Grill!
Shattered glass rained across the dark dining room as twelve heavily armed mercenaries in unmarked tactical gear poured out into the diner, led by Vance himself, who held a high-powered assault rifle.
“Find that grandfather clock!” Vance screamed, his eyes wild with terror and rage. “Tear this place apart until you find the drive!”
Inside the dark, quiet diner, the air smelled of stale coffee and rain.
From the shadow of the rear kitchen doors, a single light switched on above the counter.
Claire Bennett stood beside the stainless-steel coffee urns, wearing her simple navy blue diner apron over her dark clothes. She looked at Vance without a single trace of fear.
“You’re late, Julian,” Claire said calmly.
Vance aimed his weapon directly at her chest. “Where is the drive, you miserable little bitch? Give it to me or I’ll blow this entire building into the street!”
Claire raised her arm and glanced at her wrist watch. “It’s 11:34 PM.”
“I don’t care what time it is!” Vance roared.
“You should,” Claire replied smoothly. “Because at 11:31 PM, Marcus activated the diner’s heavy industrial gas lines beneath the kitchen floor. At 11:33 PM, the automatic fire shutters locked every exterior door and window behind your vans. And at exactly 11:34 PM...”
Claire pushed a small red toggle switch beneath the counter.
THUD.
Heavy steel security plates dropped from the ceiling, sealing Vance and his twelve mercenaries inside the central dining hall!
Simultaneously, thick, non-lethal knockout vapor burst from the air-conditioning vents, filling the room within seconds!
Vance’s mercenaries gasped, dropping their weapons as they stumbled, falling unconscious onto the checkered tile floor one by one.
Vance raised his rifle, coughing violently, aiming frantically through the thick white fog toward Claire. “I’ll... I’ll kill you...”
Before his finger could squeeze the trigger, the rear kitchen door burst open!
Everett Kane stepped through the haze like an unstoppable specter of justice. With one swift, devastating motion, Everett disarmed Vance, slammed him face-first onto the stainless steel counter, and pinned his arms behind his back with heavy steel restraints.
The heavy front security doors rolled up as thirty flashing red and blue lights illuminated the rain outside.
Clean federal agents, accompanied by the newly appointed Chief of Police, swarmed into the diner with weapons drawn, securing Vance and his fallen mercenaries.
The Federal Director walked up to the counter, where Claire sat quietly holding her father’s leather journal and the bright silver micro-drive.
“Miss Bennett,” the Director said, removing his hat out of profound respect. “Your father was a national hero. And what you did tonight saved this entire city from a war.”
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Claire handed the micro-drive to the federal officer, looking up at Everett, who stood beside her with a gentle, proud smile.
“My father didn’t do it alone,” Claire said softly. “And neither did I.”
