Chapter 7 - Ascent to the Water TowerThe wind howled fiercely around the skeletal steel beams of the abandoned municipal water tower as Isabella climbed the rusted exterior ladder. Rain battered her face, soaking her jacket to the skin, but she didn't slow her pace.
Hidden beneath her collar was the micro-transmitter relaying her audio feed directly to the FBI tactical van parked a mile away.
She reached the top platform and pushed open the heavy iron maintenance hatch.
"Well, well, look who decided to show up," a voice echoed through the dark, cavernous interior of the tower reservoir.
Victor Thorne stepped out from behind a massive concrete pillar. He looked older, his hair streaked with gray, but his eyes burned with the same unhinged, obsessive fury. Tied to chairs near the center platform were Lucas, Mateo, and Sofia, their mouths taped shut, their eyes wide with terror as they saw Isabella enter.
"Isabella!" Sofia whimpered as much as the tape would allow.
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"Keep quiet, kids," Victor hissed, stepping closer to Isabella with a cruel smile. He held a heavy-duty detonator box in his left hand, its LED screen flashing a steady red countdown timer.
"Let the children go, Victor," Isabella said, stepping forward onto the metal grating, keeping her hands visible. "You wanted me. I'm here."
