CHAPTER 7 – The Shot That Saved a Billion-Dollar Secret
The helicopter hovered low over the drained lake.
Its blades churned the night air into a violent storm.
Daniel leaned out of the open door, the sniper rifle locked onto Emma's chest.
His finger tightened around the trigger.
"This ends tonight!" he shouted.
Victor Hale stepped in front of his daughter without hesitation.
"No!"
BANG!
The gunshot echoed across the valley.
Victor staggered backward.
Blood spread across his white shirt.
"Dad!" Emma screamed as she caught him before he hit the ground.
Police officers opened fire toward the helicopter, forcing it to climb higher.
Daniel laughed through the loudspeaker.
"You still don't understand, Emma!"
"I never wanted the money."
"I wanted what was hidden inside the vault!"
Emma looked at Victor, who was struggling to breathe.
"What is he talking about?"
Victor reached into his pocket with trembling hands.
He handed Emma a small silver coin engraved with the Hale family crest.
"Promise me..."
"Don't let him open the second chamber."
"The second chamber?" Emma whispered.
Victor nodded weakly.
"The fortune was only a distraction."
"The real secret... could destroy governments."
Emma stared at him in disbelief.
"What secret?"
Before Victor could answer—
The helicopter suddenly exploded in flames.
Everyone froze.
A missile had struck the tail rotor.
The aircraft spun wildly before crashing into the forest beyond the lake.
The explosion lit up the night sky.
Police rushed toward the wreckage.
Emma collapsed beside her wounded father.
"It's over..."
But ten minutes later...
An officer returned from the burning crash site.
His face was pale.
"We searched every seat."
"There was no body."
May you like
Daniel had disappeared.
Again.
