“That’ll be the police,” Margret says grimly. “I called them before I came back in.”
Danny’s face contorts with fury. “You had no right!” He lunges suddenly, not toward Caleb or Margret with their guns, but toward me.
I barely have time to react before he slams into me, knocking the wind from my lungs. We tumble to the floor in a tangle of limbs, Scout barking frantically nearby. I hear Caleb shout myname, but Danny already has his arm around my neck, using me as a human shield.
“Back off!” he yells, dragging me to my feet. “Or I’ll snap her neck!”
His arm tightens around my throat, cutting off my air. I claw at his forearm, trying to create space to breathe, my vision already starting to darken at the edges.
“Let her go,” Caleb says, his voice deadly calm despite the fire in his eyes. “Now.”
“Drop the guns,” Danny counters. “Both of you.”
I lock eyes with Caleb, silently pleading with him not to comply. If they drop their weapons, we lose all leverage.
“Three seconds,” Danny tightens his grip further, and I gasp involuntarily. “One...”
“Okay!” Margret lowers her revolver to the floor. “Just don’t hurt her.”
Caleb doesn’t move, his aim still fixed on his target. “The moment you hurt her is the moment you die,” he says, each word precise and measured. “I don’t miss, Danny.”
The standoff stretches for what feels like an eternity, my lungs burning for air. Then, suddenly, Scout launches himself at Danny, teeth sinking into his calf.
Danny howls in pain, his grip loosening just enough for me to drive my elbow hard into his ribs. As he doubles over, I twist away, gasping for breath.
Caleb moves with impressive speed despite his leg, closing the gap between them in two quick strides. The butt of his gun strikes Danny’s temple, but not before Danny swings his fist intoCaleb’s injured leg, causing the man to crumple to the floor with Scout still biting down on his leg.
“Fuck!” Caleb hisses, limping towards me as he calls off the dog. I stumble backward, my hand at my throat, sucking in precious air. He’s at my side instantly, his arm going around my waist, steadying me.
“Are you okay?” he asks, his eyes scanning my face with an intensity that makes my heart skip.
“I’m fine,” I manage, my voice raspy. “Just... need a minute.”
The sound of car doors slamming outside grows louder, and moments later, five uniformed officers burst through the mill entrance, weapons drawn.
“Police department! Everyone freeze!”
Margret steps forward, hands raised. “I’m Margret Holloway. I called you. That’s the man I told you about,” she points to Danny’s bleeding, unconscious form on the floor.
The next hour passes in a blur of statements and explanations. The captain, a stocky man with a weathered face and kind eyes, listens intently as Margret recounts her suspicions about her brother’s death and Danny’s increasingly erratic behavior regarding the treasure.
“We found these in his truck,” one of the deputies says, bringing in a box of dynamite and blasting caps. “Looks like he was planning to do some unauthorized excavation.”
The Captain’s eyebrows rise dramatically. “Well, that’ll add to the charges. Assault, illegal possession of explosives...” He shakes his head. “You folks are lucky you called us when you did.”
Julia, who had been keeping watch outside, joins us once Danny is handcuffed and secured in the back of the patrol car. She rushes to my side, eyes wide with concern.
“Are you alright? I saw him grab you through the window!”
I nod, still massaging my throat. “I’m fine. Scout played hero.”
The dog in question sits proudly at my feet, accepting ear scratches from both Julia and Caleb.
As the officers prepare to leave with Danny, the Captain turns to us. “You might want to consider pressing charges for the assault, ma’am.”
“I will,” I say firmly. There’s no room for sympathy now, not after he tried to strangle me.
“And about this treasure business,” he continues, “if there really is gold or valuable minerals on that property, you’ll want to secure the legal rights properly. I can recommend a good lawyer who specializes in mineral claims.”
