part0036

J ean Luc scurried back to his hiding place as the alarm cut off, the same alarm he had heard earlier when the bad people had arrived. But this time he had been prepared. He watched the video he had taken and smiled.

He posted it to his Instagram account, an account with barely any followers as he wasn’t allowed to have it. The only people who would see it would be a few of his friends with their own secret accounts, and they were probably getting ready for bed.

He quickly sent her a direct message with the link, asking her to do just that. If she was able to, then he might get a ton of followers as well, and that would give him the start he needed in life at only eight years old. By eighteen, it could snowball into something huge where he could be famous just for being famous, and not work a day in his life.

C hief Inspector Liliana Sanchez of the Spanish National Police Corps stepped from the back of the mobile command center, surveying the area as she prepared to take command. An inspector, in charge until now, ran over.

“We’ve evacuated all other areas of the museum, and we’re sweeping it for stragglers, but we’re keeping away from the atrium and the immediately adjoining areas.”

“No, we know nothing about them or anything that’s going inside beyond that there were gunshots. We received a 1-1-2 call about the attack, then when we arrived, we saw someone at the door with a gun, then people chaining the doors shut. It looks like they intend to be here for a while.”

“Let’s hope they just want to make a statement then surrender.” She leaned back inside the mobile command center. “Start checking social media for any type of posts from inside. Everybody has a phone now and is looking for any chance to gain followers.”

“And get me a megaphone.” She was promptly handed one from inside. She walked over to the front entrance of the museum and placed the megaphone to her mouth. “This is Chief Inspector Sanchez of the National Police Corps. I would like to speak to you to discuss your demands.” She saw a shadow near the door move then disappear. She looked at the others. “Let’s hope he’s fetching his boss and not taking a piss.” Her tension-breaking joke was greeted with chuckles from her stressed team.

P eeters stood next to the door, counting to sixty, preparing to “escape” from the terrorists inside, when one of his men called for him. He cursed, putting his hand on the door, preparing to push it open.

He pretended to have been closing the door and walked toward Rudy. “I thought I heard something, so I was just checking to make sure the police weren’t up to anything.”

“Oh, so that’s why we heard the alarm again.” Rudy jerked a thumb over his shoulder, back toward the atrium. “Well, speaking of police, you better get out front. There’s a cop out there who wants to discuss our terms.”

Rudy shook his head. “I haven’t seen anything, but maybe they’re being held farther back. Maybe you can tell her to bring them up so you can make a statement.”

“Good thinking.” Peeters reluctantly followed Rudy back into the atrium, cursing to himself as he wondered how he was making his escape now.

Peeters flinched at the rage in Karl’s voice as he rushed toward him, the detonator in one hand, his phone in the other. Karl shoved the screen in his face.

Peeters’ mouth dried at the video playing on the phone showing him letting the professors go with the Bible. “How did you get that?”

Peeters glanced back toward where he had just been. “Obviously, there’s someone else loose out there recording what we’re doing. Go find—”

“I don’t give a shit about that! I want to know what the hell is going on! You just let two of our hostages go with the Bible. Destroying that and killing these people was the whole point of this, wasn’t it?”

He tensed, realizing he had no choice now but to come clean with what had happened over the last five minutes. “Yes it was, but things have changed.”

He held up a calming hand. “I can’t tell you now, but if everything works out, the Brigade will be funded for the rest of our lives.”

Karl’s face was red. “You’re telling me you’re going to sell that thing? Is that what’s going on? What about our cause? Are you saying we’re going to profit off the death of all those animals? That’s not what we stand for. Even if it could help us as individuals, we would never want to profit from the slaughter of innocent animals!”

The others had gathered now, abandoning their positions, and none appeared happy. He had only moments to salvage this situation, let alone escape. “Not me, someone else. A benefactor of ours.”

“You know as well as I do that it’s one-percenters in the background that help most organizations like ours. The people who support our cause can’t afford to fund us, but there are some one-percenters who do.”

“Yeah, for their own twisted reasons. Even you said they only oppose the pipelines because they own the trains that will transport the oil instead.”

“Yes, there are hypocrites like that, but this particular man I trust to have the best interests of our animals at heart.”

Karl glared at him. “How the hell am I supposed to do that? All our faces are on camera. This was a one-way mission. We were supposed to make our statement then kill everyone here including ourselves, then we’d go down as martyrs to the cause. But instead, when all is said and done, they’re going to find out that the Bible is gone, and that this was all done for profit.” He drew a quick breath then his eyes narrowed. “Were those professors in on it?”

Peeters had had enough. There was no more time. “I’m leaving before it’s too late. Any of you who want to live, come with me now, otherwise, stay here and stick to the original plan. You’ll still make your statement by killing all these people.”

His friends, his comrades, exchanged looks with each other, and he could see the fear and confusion on their faces, their disappointment. They had all been chosen for a reason. They were all true believers, they were all willing to sacrifice themselves to send a message to the world that their lives were no more important than any animal’s.

“I’m leaving. Join me if you want.” He turned and headed for the fire exit, praying there was still time to get away.

M archand cursed as he shoved his wife and daughter to the ground. He threw himself over them, protecting the two most precious women in his life, though it would be no use. It felt like an eternity, though it was likely less than a second, before a screeching terror ripped through the atrium, enveloping them as those still standing were shredded by the shrapnel released by the bomb.

Agonizing daggers of pain tore through him as he was hit repeatedly. His wife and daughter screamed as a burst of flame rushed over them. He gasped, holding his breath as the heat washed past, searing his back, the agony too much, forcing him to scream as the oxygen was consumed around him.

And as the death and destruction continued, his pain proved too much, and mercifully, his world faded, the last sounds he heard those of the screams from his terrified family, the only solace of his final moments the knowledge they still lived.

C hief Inspector Sanchez peered through the glass door of the museum then saw the flash. “Everybody down!” But it was too late. The front windows of the main level exploded outward, shards of glass and debris tearing through the evening as a fireball clawed at anything in its path. The blast punched her in the chest, knocking her backward as she gasped for breath, her eyes squeezed shut as a wave of heat enveloped her. She hit the ground hard, skidding until she slammed into something, abruptly bringing her to a halt. She sat in a daze for a few moments then felt hands on her.

The voice sounded as if it were from far away, and it took her a moment to realize it was the ringing in her ears making it difficult to hear. She took several breaths, self-assessing her condition. “I-I think so.” She extended her arms. “Help me up.”

She did, but none of the jolts were worth talking about. If she screamed, then it was something to pay attention to. The examination was soon over.

She extended her arms again and was hauled to her feet. She examined herself, then gingerly moved all her muscles and joints, making certain she was indeed fine.

She leaned into a still intact window of one of the police units and frowned at the reflection revealing little abrasions all over her face. “I’m fine. What about everyone else?”

“That’s what I get for being curious.” She sighed, surveying the area. The flames were almost out, and the only damage appeared to be the large glass outer wall of the atrium. The blast had been powerful only because she had been so close, and with what it had done to her, she could only imagine the horrors that awaited them inside. She pointed at the mess of vehicles. “Clear a path. I want fire and ambulance to be able to get in and out of here. And keep the press back.” She looked about. “Is the bomb squad here yet?”

She frowned. “Okay, no point in waiting. Send them in to check for secondary devices. Have fire douse those flames when they get here, but everybody stays outside until the bomb squad says we’re good to go. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am!” Her gathered team broke off to execute her orders while she leaned back against the vehicle that had stopped her skid, rubbing the back of her aching head.

She spotted an ambulance rushing toward them. As it stopped, it turned off its siren, exposing one of those rare moments of silence bookended by chaos.

S omething flashed behind them and Acton spun in his seat, poking his head out the window to see a fireball erupt from the main level of the Guggenheim, then just as quickly disappear. “Oh my God, what have you done!” he shouted into the phone.

For several moments they heard nothing but muffled sounds, as if the mouthpiece of the phone was being covered. Finally, the man behind this horror returned. “A…little ahead of schedule, but so be it. Those people were always going to die. Better to end their suffering sooner rather than later, wouldn’t you say?”

“No, Professor Palmer, I’m a businessman, though I am one who believes that killing animals is as cruel as killing humans. I believe everyone, all creatures, are equal.”

Acton growled. “It sounds to me like you’re just another greedy criminal.” He ran his fingers over the cover of the Bible in his lap. “This Bible is priceless. It should be shared with all mankind, but you intend to sell it to some private collector so you can profit, and killed all those people to do it!”

“What my motivations are, Professor, are none of your concern. Your only concern is that you are now under my control. And you must do what I say.”

“Professor Acton, what you fail to realize is that right now, I have security footage of you and your wife leaving the facility with the Bible, as well as a set of keys that allowed you to escape in the getaway vehicle. Right now, after I post this footage to the Internet and send it to law enforcement, the world is going to think you two were the masterminds, not the simpletons who died.”

“Oh, they will. Your social media profiles have been faked, and are filled with posts going back for years, showing you’re both card-carrying members of the cause. And after what you’ve done, with all those people now dead, they’ll be shooting first before asking questions. So, if you want to live, you’ll do everything I say otherwise you’re dead.”

Acton shook his head. “I still don’t see the leverage. We’ll just walk into the nearest police station and turn ourselves in. Let them sort it out.”

“If the bombs did their job, then over one hundred of the wealthiest and most powerful people in the world just died. If I’m not afraid to kill them, do you think I’ll hesitate to kill others? You will be sent a set of instructions. If you fail to follow any one of them, I will detonate a bomb targeting those who would kill animals for pleasure. Perhaps a farm, a butcher’s shop, a store that sells leather jackets. The targets are endless in today’s decadent, cruel society. Do as I say, or the blood of hundreds more will be on your hands.”