We last read Chapter 74, in which she defeats Jake Rockford. Xavier Wheldon is not done, though, holding a gun to Conner, who is already injured. Wheldon orders Sapphire Angel to stand down and not interrupt the countdown to the breach of the nuclear containment building. Before she can decide between Conner and stopping a nuclear catastrophe, Conner throws himself over the edge of the railing, 75 feet above the ground. Distraught, Sapphire Angel recovers in time to overcome Wheldon, and rush to the computer to stop the laser. A moment later, gunshots ring out, as Wheldon has shot and killed Mark Bishop and Jake Rockford, preserving the silence of his conspiracy. As she deals with the aftermath, Sapphire Angel hears a call from help outside the tower, and finds Conner dangling from the stairway railing one level below her. She jumps to his level and pulls him to safety. After thanking her, he sets off to summon help at the lodge, but not before alluding to his feelings for Beth.
This is the second story, so if you want to start from the very beginning, you can jump over to book 1, and begin with the Prologue of Sapphire Angel, Superheroine. Or to start at the beginning of book 2 (this story), click over to the Prologue of Power Play.
Thanks for reading!
The inside of the tower looked like a crime scene, which it soon would be. Wheldon lay bound on the floor, with the bodies of Bishop and Rockford nearby. Blood surrounded the bodies, and a trail of blood left behind by Conner crossed one side of the room. Andy Albright sat bound to a chair.
But Sapphire Angel's attention focused on Tanner, who lay crumpled on the ground. She rushed to his side, checking his pulse again. He was still breathing, but needed help. She glanced down at her boot, but the radio she had clipped there was gone, likely resting at the bottom of the pond.
Her eyes scanned the room and fell on the telephone above the computer. It was an ordinary office phone, with a keypad and several speed dial buttons. Typed labels were arranged next to those buttons. Scanning the labels, she found a button marked "IT Systems." She picked up the phone and pressed the button.
It ran three times until a female voice answered.
"Yes?" the woman answered, her voice tentative. Raven Tristan.
"It's Sapphire Angel. Things are secure here. I need you to get word over to the nuclear plant, in case I didn't get this thing shut down in time to prevent a leak. I don't want to assume the timer was correct."
"Already done," Tristan answered. "I knocked out the jammer Wheldon was using to block communications, and got word out. The feds are on their way. Whatever you did, it worked. There was no leak at the plant."
"Good," Sapphire Angel said, exhaling in relief. "Send them to the tower, along with someone to help Tanner. He's been hurt. A head injury, I think. I have Wheldon tied up, but he killed his bodyguard and Bishop, to make sure nobody talks."
"Damn. Ruthless bastard. I'll direct authorities your way, although they might have their hands full for a bit. Wheldon's guards must have picked up my transmission, because I heard their chatter over the radio, and they're all trying to get out of here."
"And the other guests?"
"My guess is that they will play stupid," Tristan answered. "They'll say they were here for a banquet and had no idea what else was going on. And if I came up empty finding anything before, there's a good chance there's nothing to be found. If Wheldon tries to take the blame for the whole thing, probably along with Bishop, it might just work. After a long investigation, of course. But the others may walk scot-free."
Sapphire Angel gritted her teeth. Some guards had just been doing their job and probably knew nothing of Wheldon's crazy plan. The same couldn't be said for many of the guests. But if Tristan had failed to dig up any evidence, what could Beth do?
"At least the guards won't get away," Tristan said, as if sensing the heroine's frustration. "Thanks to the fence, there are only two ways off Wheldon's land, and I've pointed the feds to both of them. Wheldon's goons will run right to them."
"Good. Get someone here for Tanner, then."
"Just a moment."
Sapphire Angel listened as Tristan spoke into a radio, giving directions to the tower.
"Done," Tristan said as she got back on the line. "I imagine they'll be there soon."
"You've accounted for yourself quite well, Tristan. You've almost made up for what you did to me. Almost."
"Thanks, I think. I'm going to be disappearing myself, so you won't see me again. Your secret is safe with me. That's a stick of dynamite I don't want to mess with."
Sapphire Angel paused. Did Tristan deserve punishment for any help she had given Wheldon? Beth truly believed Tristan knew nothing about Wheldon's plans, and she had taken great efforts to stop him. So, in the end, her only crime was what she had done to Sapphire Angel. Had she atoned for it? The heroine's hand tightened on the phone.
"Farewell, then," Sapphire Angel said.
"There's one more thing. I tapped into the surveillance cameras, and I located a girl, presumably Tanner's daughter, locked in a room on the second floor. With no guards left, I can check on her when we're done talking."
Sapphire Angel was about to reply, when she heard a groan on the ground near her. She looked down. Tanner was stirring. It was almost as if he had sensed the talk about his family.
"Gotta go," Sapphire Angel said into the telephone, and returned it to its place on the wall. She crouched down next to Tanner, whose eyes were flickering.
"Take it easy," she said, putting a gloved hand to his shoulder. "Help is on the way."
He looked up at her through barely opened eyes.
"Did... did you stop them?" he asked in a hoarse whisper.
"Yes," she said. "It's over."
He closed his eyes and exhaled before trying to speak again.
"My... my..." he said, but didn't finish, his voice breaking with emotion.
"Your daughter is safe," Sapphire Angel assured him. "She's back at the lodge, waiting to see you. But first you need medical care."
Tanner's eyes opened again, and tears appeared in the corners of them.
"Thank you," he rasped. "You really are an angel." His mouth closed and trembled, and tears streamed down his face.
As she looked down at him, a rumble sounded in the distance, getting closer. A helicopter.
It was time for her to go. Despite all the good she had done in the world, she wasn't yet sure of her standing with government authorities. Especially those of the federal variety. They might view her as a vigilante.
"That's my cue," Sapphire Angel told Tanner. "Help will be here in just a couple of minutes."
Without waiting for a response from Tanner, Sapphire Angel rose, moved to the door, and disappeared into the growing light.
Twenty minutes later Beth Harper could see the outline of the lodge through the trees. Gone was her costume, replaced by the sequined dress. She was only a few yards from the edge of the woods, but stood on the opposite side of the lodge from the tower, having circled around the lodge before making her transformation. She was about to stagger into the clearing when a voice called from behind her.
"Beth!" Conner's voice exclaimed.
She turned to see Conner rushing toward her from deeper in the forest. He wore one of the guard's shirts, so his gunshot wound wasn't visible. He ran, closing the distance quickly, but the grimace of pain on his face was unmistakable. When he reached her, he surprised her by enveloping her in a tight hug.
The lingering ache in her chest caused her to whimper in his embrace. He pulled back, a look of concern on his face.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I took a tumble down a ravine in the woods. Just some bumps and bruises. I'll be okay."
"Your hair looks like it was wet."
"Yea, I think I rolled through a big puddle or something when I went down. What's going on? We need to call for help and stop Wheldon!"
He leaned in, kissing her on the lips. She closed her eyes, kissing him back. When they pulled away, she looked at his shoulder and gasped, as blood was seeping through his borrowed shirt.
"You're bleeding! Now we really need to get help!"
"A gunshot. No serious damage," he explained. "I'll be fine."
"A gunshot! Why are you so nonchalant? You need medical attention, and Wheldon is still out there!"
"The lodge is swarming with federal authorities," he said. "FBI, Secret Service, you name it. I'm not ready yet for them to tie me up in questioning for hours. I heard them coming as I've been looking for you. You had me worried."
"What did I miss?" she asked, feigning confusion. "I've been wandering around lost in the woods ever since we got away from Wheldon's guards."
Conner grinned. "You have a terrible sense of direction, don't you?"
Beth gave a sheepish smile and shrugged, but said nothing.
"Sapphire Angel saved the day," he explained, his voice rising in his excitement. "She stopped the laser in time. She had been through hell by the time she got into the tower, but somehow she did it. I'll have to fill you in on the details, but she saved my life, too."
Beth paused, feigning as if she were processing the news. After a few moments, she spoke.
"She's amazing," Beth murmured. "How are you so lucky to keep getting to meet her?"
Conner grinned and shrugged. "I don't know. But she's not as amazing as you, I realize."
Beth grinned, but only for a moment. Conner was leaning in for another kiss. Before he reached her lips, though, a voice cried out there.
"You two, freeze! FBI!"
Two men approached, wearing tactical armor, each adorned with a badge, and holding assault rifles.
Conner sighed. "So much for dodging the questioning. Something tells me it's going to be a long day."
This is the second story, so if you want to start from the very beginning, you can jump over to book 1, and begin with the Prologue of Sapphire Angel, Superheroine. Or to start at the beginning of book 2 (this story), click over to the Prologue of Power Play.
Thanks for reading!
I appreciate any comments or email.
Well…..we did it. We averted a nuclear disaster.
Doesn’t look like we’re getting out of this one, though. Wonder what the FBI has to say about this whole thing. And is Raven Tristan really going to just disappear entirely? I still don’t trust her with Sapphire’s secret even now.
You know who I would trust, though? Conner. I feel like the final battle would’ve gone a bit more smoothly if he knew, but that’s just me.
It’s been a fun, intense ride! Onto the epilogue!