Chapter 11 - The Law Arrives
Julian scrambled back through the broken window frame, dragging himself toward the dropped sidearm. He leveled the barrel at the open hatch, his finger tensing on the trigger, prepared to fight to his last drop of blood.
A bulky helmet rose from the gloom, but instead of the tactical black gear of Victoria's mercenaries, it bore a bright yellow crest.
""New York State Police! Drop the weapon!""
Julian lowered the gun instantly, letting it clatter across the floorboards. ""We need medical assistance! Over here!""
Troopers flooded the small cabin, their high-powered flashlights cutting through the haze. Two paramedics rushed straight to Olivia, who was barely breathing, her lips pale and skin marble-cold.
""She’s in severe respiratory distress,"" the paramedic shouted, attaching an oxygen mask and starting an IV drip. ""We have the helicopter hovering above the clearing! We need to move her now!""
Julian pulled Lucy into his arms, burying his face in her damp hair as the little girl wept silently against his chest. ""How did you find us?"" Julian asked the lead sergeant.
""Your father’s former head of security,"" the sergeant replied, wrapping a foil shock blanket around Julian's shoulders. ""He smelled something rotten at the wedding and accessed Victoria's private communications. He called us thirty minutes ago with the coordinates of her mercenaries' private vehicles.""
Julian looked out the shattered window into the swirling abyss below. The forest was quiet now, save for the thrumming roar of the approaching medical evacuation chopper.
""Victoria fell,"" Julian said plainly.
The sergeant looked over the railing into the pitch-black chasm, where the wind howled mercilessly. ""Nobody survives a drop from this ridge in a blizzard. We'll send search and recovery at dawn.""
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As the paramedics carried Olivia down the metal staircase in a specialized basket, Lucy looked up at Julian, her hazel eyes glistening under the emergency lights. ""Is Mommy going to wake up?""
Julian tightened his grip on his daughter, his voice breaking with fierce, unyielding hope. ""She’s going to wake up, Lucy. I promise you. The nightmare is over.""
