Chapter 16 - Ambush in the Dark
"Tactical flashlights, go!" Daniel ordered, drawing his sidearm while Marshal Lin illuminated the rafters with a high-lumen tactical beam.
Two heavily armed mercenaries in tactical gear moved along the upper mezzanine, their assault rifles equipped with laser sights. Judge Thornton had clearly sent his private fixers to retrieve the box and eliminate all witnesses.
"Give us the lockbox, Captain, and the boy gets to live!" a rough voice shouted down from the catwalk.
"Over my dead body!" Daniel yelled back.
Mason crouched low behind the luggage counter. He noticed the main emergency fire suppression panel mounted on the adjacent wall. Beside it was the manual high-pressure deluge valve for the terminal's commercial sprinkler system.
Mason looked at Daniel, signaling silently toward the valve.
Daniel gave a sharp nod of understanding. "Covering fire!" Daniel roared, firing three rounds toward the catwalk to force the gunmen to duck behind the steel beams.
Mason sprinted across the open corridor, grabbed the red emergency lever with both hands, and yanked it down with all his body weight!
*WHOOSH!*
Thousands of gallons of pressurized water and fire retardant foam erupted from the ceiling in a blinding, torrential cascade. The sudden downpour completely overwhelmed the shooters' night-vision goggles, blinding them with static and foam.
Marshal Lin and Daniel used the confusion to flank the mezzanine stairs, neutralizing both gunmen with swift, non-lethal tactical takedowns before they could recover their bearings.
Within minutes, police sirens converged on the bus terminal as County Sheriff units surrounded the perimeter.
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Mason stood in the center of the terminal, soaked with water and foam, holding the steel strongbox safely under his arm.
"Sarah," Daniel said, breathing hard as he secured the captured mercenaries. "Call the Department of Justice in Washington. Tell them Judge Thornton's court is officially out of order."
