“I agree about God’s grace.We are blessed that He has been watching over us.”Micah leaned back to search her gaze.“It’s over, Bryn.You’re safe, and I’m sure we’ll be able to clear your name without difficulty.”
“I know.”She stared up into his blue eyes, searching for the right words to say.She wanted to tell him how much she loved him.Then it was too late, as the ear-piercing sounds of the sirens made it impossible for her to be heard.
She leaned up to brush a kiss over his cheek, then stepped back to watch as the two police cruisers came to a sudden stop a few feet beyond the gray SUV.
“Put your hands where I can see them!Both of you!”One cop barked orders as three officers spilled out of the two vehicles.
When Micah lifted his hands, Bryn did the same.“I’m former Army Sergeant Micah Newton, and this is Bryn Sinclair.We have two people down with gunshot wounds requiring medical attention.We have two other men who are tied up, sitting just inside the building.”
“Throw down your weapons,” the officer demanded.
“Okay, don’t get trigger-happy.”Micah tossed his gun down, then pulled the second weapon from behind his back to get rid of that one as well.
Bryn threw her confiscated weapon alongside his, then raised her hands again.“That man is Damien Rochester.He’s not dead, despite faking his death and framing me for the crime.He’s also responsible for embezzled funds from the company.”
The officer in charge appeared to ignore her as he surveyed the scene.He gestured for one of the other cops to head inside the building.A moment later, the officer called, “Two men are here bound with some sort of mesh tape.”
“It’s drywall tape,” Micah said helpfully.
The lead officer frowned, then stared hard at Micah.“I need you to explain what happened here.”
“Bryn Sinclair was framed for embezzling funds and the murder of Damien Rochester,” Micah said.“As you know, there’s a warrant out for her arrest.But the man she was accused of killing is alive.And I was with her during the time frame in question.We set out to prove her innocence.We came here to check the data center and heard Nate and Phillip Justin discussing how they’d framed Bryn and mentioned their intent to kill her.I have an audio recording of their conversation if you’re interested.”
The cop’s eyebrows hiked up in surprise.“Yes, I’m interested.Go on.”
“Nate and Phillip were armed, but we managed to disarm them and tie them up,” Micah made it sound as easy as baking a cake.“We were about to call your department when Damien and Gwen showed up.They were armed, too.Those are their weapons over there.”
The cop glanced over to where the two guns were lying in the dirt.“And how did they get shot?”
“I told them to throw down their weapons, they didn’t comply.”Micah didn’t hesitate.“Based on the fact that I was outnumbered, and Damien pointed his gun at me with the clear intent to fire, I was forced to protect myself and Bryn.”
Bryn stepped forward.“These men were trying to ruin my life.They were either going to kill me outright or they were going to see to it that I spent the rest of my life in jail.We only did what was necessary.”
The cop glanced at his partner, shrugged, and lowered his weapon.“And why exactly did they do all of this?”
“We don’t know for sure,” Micah said.“But we know this data center is at the heart of the crime.Nate admitted that much.We suspect they’re planning to use the data center for illegal activities, like hacking or something along those lines.”He glanced over toward Damien.“Hopefully, you’ll get some answers from them as to what the goal was here.”
“Hmm.”The cop seemed to think the theory was far-fetched, but he didn’t pursue the issue.“Okay, step over there,” he said.“I’ll need to hear that video, and we’ll need to go through all of this again down at the station.”
Bryn tried not to groan as she moved to the side far away from Damien and Gwen.More sirens split the air as the two requested ambulances arrived on the scene.
The EMTs went to work on Damien and Gwen.
“You’ll need to send officers with them to the hospital,” Micah warned.“They’re both involved in this.Nate is Gwen’s husband.”
“Nate and Gwen White,” Bryn added.
The officer sighed heavily.“Fine.Let’s hear this tape of yours before I decide whether to arrest you and Sinclair too.”
Micah pulled out his phone and hit the play button on the video.There was nothing interesting to see on the recording, but the words were loud and clear.
The cops will find and arrest her.We need to stay focused on the plan.
I still think we need to flush her out into the open.We can’t risk anyone in the police department buying her side of the story.
You worry too much.Nobody will believe her with the evidence that’s stacked against her.
You’re an idiot.She’s a threat that needs to be eliminated.Without anyone to hear her side of the story, the evidence planted against her will stand without being questioned.
