They carefully closed the unit, replacing the lock. The lot was still empty except for the attendant's car. Everything looked normal, undisturbed. Daniel drove them back toward the main road, taking a different route than they'd arrived. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement.
They were less than a mile from the storage facility when Nia noticed it in the side mirror. A black SUV pulling out from a side street, matching their speed. "We've got company, " she said quietly, watching the vehicle settle into position behind them. The black SUV surged forward without warning, ramming into their rear quarter panel with crushing force. Metal screamed against metal as their car spun wildly toward the concrete median.
Tessa clutched the evidence bag to her chest while Daniel fought the steering wheel. "Brace! " Nia shouted, grabbing the headrest as they skidded sideways. Their vehicle slammed into the median with a sickening crunch, airbags exploding in a cloud of white powder. For a moment, everything was chaos and ringing ears.
Then Nia heard car doors opening behind them. "Police, show your hands, " a voice bellowed. But something was wrong about the tone, too aggressive, too eager. Through the cracked side mirror, Nia saw four men approaching with weapons drawn. They wore plain clothes and tactical vests, but no badges or proper identification.
Their movements were uncoordinated, nothing like real police procedure. Tessa, stay down, Nia ordered, reaching for the duffel bag. Her fingers found the oil cloth wrap containing her father's disassembled sidearm. Years of military training took over as she quickly joined the pieces together. Daniel shifted painfully beside her, blood seeping from a graze on his upper arm where glass had cut him.
They're not real officers, he whispered. The approach is all wrong. The fake officers spread out around their damaged car. One of them aimed directly at Tessa through the rear window. That was another mistake.
No legitimate officer would target an unarmed teenager first. Nia finished assembling the weapon just as one attacker reached for her door handle. She kicked it open hard, catching him in the knee. He stumbled backward, cursing. Nia used the moment to slide out low, keeping the car between her and the other gunmen.
"Federal agent! " Daniel shouted, drawing his own weapon despite his injury. "Stand down! " Instead of complying, one of the attackers opened fire. The sound was deafening in the confines of the intersection.
Civilians screamed and scattered. Car horns blared as drivers abandoned their vehicles for cover. Nia moved with careful precision. Nothing flashy or dramatic. She took measured shots only when she had clear lines of fire, forcing the attackers to duck behind parked cars.
Her goal wasn't to pursue. It was to protect her family and survive. "Tessa, move to the median when I tell you, " she called. "Keep the evidence secure. " A delivery truck screeched to a halt at an angle, accidentally blocking one gunman's position.
The driver bailed out and ran, leaving the engine running. Tessa used the distraction to scramble over the center console, still gripping the document bag. Now, Nia laid down covering fire while Tessa sprinted to the median's concrete barrier. Daniel provided additional suppression, his shots careful and precise despite his wound. One attacker tried to flank their position, but slipped on scattered glass.