Page 95 of Valor

A shot ricocheted off a metal door and imbedded in the ceiling above them. Allen and Danny pressed against the wall. There were no areas to take cover in a hospital hallway. All the doors were locked with security cards.

Allen and Danny slowly sidestepped down the hall, closer to Eric. There was a desk for registration about halfway between the exit at the other end of the hall and where Allen stood. That had to be where Eric and Aaron had taken cover.

He didn’t want to shoot up a hospital, but there weren’t many ways he was going to be able to safely apprehend these two. It was clear their agenda had changed. Men who didn’t care about dying meant they might take others along with them.

Danny ventured out a step to peer down the hallway, then backed against the wall again. “As far as I can see, they have no visual on us. They’ve ducked for cover, or they’ve moved.”

Down the hall, the exit sign glowed red above the door Heather had peered through to get the information she’d given him. Eric could exit without a security card, but he wouldn’t be able to get back in and he’d walk right into a waiting net of armed men.

The trouble with that plan was that Heather was out there, and he wanted to avoid sending Eric that way if possible. “We need to cut off their escape,” Allen whispered.

Danny radioed the men outside and called for backup at the door. A few seconds later, light flashed at the end of the hallway. Officers were now stationed in the stairwell between the exits. There was no escape.

“Eric. We have you surrounded. Come out with your hands up,” Allen called from his position.

Without the intel Heather had given them, they wouldn’t be there. He thanked God for her wisdom in getting herself out and getting the information she had. Danny aimed down the hall, covering Allen.

“I’m not coming out. You’ll have to come get me,” Eric said from his hiding spot.

“What do you hope to get out of this? You’re going to jail.”

Eric made a noise that could only be described as fury. “I didn’t do anything illegal. I tried to get the zoning changed.”

“Maybe you forgot about murder, kidnapping, conspiracy...” Allen pointed out some of the long list of crimes Eric and his team had committed.

“I didn’t kill anyone. Aaron did that,” Eric yelled.

“Don’t pin that on me,” Aaron shouted. “That was all your idea. You only came to me for help.”

If he could turn the two men against each other, that might be enough of a distraction to get in there and arrest them. “Eric, I witnessed you shoot the shop clerk. You were seen at the kidnapping by Oliver, Aaron’s father.” That was a stretch, but Heather had drawn his picture.

“I told you not to get your father involved.” Eric shoved Aaron out into the hallway and drew a gun from his pocket, cocking it loudly. “This would’ve been easy, but you kept wanting to get more and more people involved. I told you not to. I warned you.”

Eric raised his gun at Aaron, and Allen pulled the trigger to stop him.

Eric dropped to his knees, holding his side. Aaron took one look down the hall at them, then raced for the exit. He barely got the door open before he raised his hands, giving up. Allen took a deep breath and thanked God they’d been able to get both of them without police or civilian injury.

A cold gun barrel pressed to his neck. “Tell them all to back off.” Micha’s cold, raspy voice breathed over his ear. “I’m not joking, and I don’t care if I kill you.”

Danny had already run to check on Eric, leaving Allen to deal with Micha, who’d clearly been there for a while, biding his time. Allen raised his hands but didn’t reach for his radio. “What would Mom say about this? How would she treat you if you killed the son she’s never had the chance to meet?”

“I don’t care. I won’t tell her I killed you.”

“You don’t think she’ll know? There are thirty officers out there. If you take me, they’ll descend on you like an eagle after a trout.”

Allen felt him back off a step and he pushed his advantage. “She’s sick. If you shock her right now, she’ll die. Is that what you want? Are you so angry with me that you’d rob her of life?” He wanted to meet her, to tell her he wished he’d had the chance to know her.

“I hate you,” Micha muttered.

With a quick twist at the waist, Allen dropped his elbow and jabbed Micha’s side. His opponent gasped for breath as Allen turned and gripped his wrist, turning him away and trapping his hands behind him. He took the gun from Micha’s hand and cuffed him as a medical team came from upstairs to tend to Eric.

Allen moved Micha against the wall and then took a deep breath, letting the satisfaction of a finished job wash over him. “I’ll take care of Mom. She won’t be alone without you.”

Micha rested his forehead against the wall and didn’t respond. A gentle hand on his arm drew his attention away from Micha. He turned to find Heather by his side, right where she belonged.

“I’ve never seen a more appealing sight in all my life.” He pulled her into his embrace.

“I’ve never felt more at home,” she answered.

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