Chapter 8 - The Trap Springs
Before Mark could take another step toward the corridor, Detective Reyes and Officer Miller stepped out from the side alcove, their weapons drawn and leveled at his chest.
"Mark Carter! Police! Put your hands where we can see them!" Reyes ordered, her voice echoing off the sterile walls.
Mark froze. For a split second, shock registered on his face, but it was quickly replaced by a sickening mask of indignant outrage.
"What is the meaning of this?" Mark shouted, raising his hands slowly. "My wife is mentally unstable! She kidnapped our sick daughter and brought her here to run up bills we can't pay! I demand to see my child!"
"Save it, Mr. Carter," Detective Reyes snapped. "We have the extracted capsule. We have the insurance policies. And we have your daughter's sworn statement."
At the mention of the capsule, Mark’s face drained of all color. His eyes shifted toward the exit, his muscles tensing as he calculated his chances of running.
"Don't even think about it," Miller warned, advancing with handcuffs drawn. "Turn around and face the wall. Hands behind your back."
Mark didn't comply. Instead, his hand dove deep into his inner coat pocket.
"Gun!" Miller yelled, lunging forward.
Mark pulled out a small, metallic remote device—not a firearm, but a handheld frequency transmitter. He pressed the central button with a frantic, manic laugh. "You think you're smart, Nora? You think you can take her from me? It's already done!"
Nothing happened.
Mark stared at the blinking LED light on the device in horror. He pressed it again, desperately slamming his thumb against the plastic casing. "No... no! It was supposed to trigger the corrosive release!"
"It's already out of her, Mark," I said, stepping into the hallway, staring at the monster I had shared a bed with for sixteen years. "The doctors removed it an hour ago. She’s safe. And you are finished."
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Mark stared at me, his eyes wide with unhinged fury. "You stupid bitch! Do you know how much debt I’m in? Do you know what those loan sharks will do to me? She was supposed to save this family!"
Officer Miller slammed Mark against the linoleum wall, twisting his arms behind his back and clicking the steel handcuffs tightly around his wrists.
