Chapter 13 - The Standoff on Route 9
Deputy Chief Vance stepped out of the trailing command SUV, his face twisted in disbelief and rage. He saw Liam standing twenty feet from the crushed guardrail, trembling, soaking wet, his tiny hands still thrusting Miller’s badge toward the sky.
""Secure the perimeter!"" Vance roared, drawing his sidearm. ""It’s a coordinated distraction! The boy is an accessory to a fugitive escape!""
""He's four years old, Vance!"" shouted State Trooper Martinez, stepping between Vance and the child, his own hand resting firmly on his service holster. ""What the hell are you doing with that weapon drawn?""
Behind them, the rear doors of the armored van were kicked open from the inside. Marcus Vance, battered, bloody, and dragging thirty pounds of steel transport chains, fell out onto the pavement. He looked up through swollen eyes and saw his son standing in the center of the flashing lights.
""LIAM!"" Marcus cried out, trying to lurch forward, but the chain attached to the interior bench jerked him back to his knees.
""Daddy!"" Liam dropped the badge and ran toward the van, his little boots slapping against the wet asphalt.
""Step aside, Martinez!"" Vance shouted, lunging forward to intercept the boy, his fingers reaching out to grab Liam’s jacket collar. ""That child is state evidence!""
""Touch him and you're a dead man, Vance!"" a voice barked from the tree line.
Tommy Cole staggered out of the brush, covered in mud, holding the waterlogged polaroid high in one hand and Miller’s dash-cam memory card in the other—retrieved from the wreckage before they fled.
""Deputy Chief Vance murdered Officer Miller four hours ago on Blackwood Ridge!"" Tommy screamed, his voice carrying over the idling diesel engines. ""He torched the annex! He framed Marcus! And I have the transfer logs and the camera footage right here!""
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Every state trooper on the highway froze. All eyes turned from Tommy’s scarred face to Vance’s drawn weapon.
Vance looked around at the circle of state officers. His jaw clenched, his eyes darting frantically toward his SUV. Slowly, his weapon began to rise toward Tommy.
