Multiple units converging on the plant. Through the window, emergency lights painted the smoke-filled sky in strobing red and blue. Fire alarms shrieked through the smoke-filled corridors of the meatpacking plant. Trina stood over Faulner, her body camera still streaming while emergency lights painted the office in surreal flashes of red. Those girls you tried to sell.
She pressed her boot against his shoulder, making him wince. They're going home to their families. But you, you're never seeing daylight again. The building trembled as another explosion rocked the lower levels. Smoke poured through the vents, thick and acrid.
Outside, a police helicopter spotlight swept across the windows and dozens of voices shouted commands through bullhorns. FBI, this is a federal operation. All units hold position. Trina grabbed Faulner's keys and unlocked the cuffs from the pipe, quickly resecuring them behind his back. On your feet, she ordered, hauling him up.
We're walking out of here. You're dead. He snarled through bloody teeth. You hear me? Dead.
She shoved him toward the door. Keep talking. The whole country's watching your meltdown live. They emerged into the hallway as state police in tactical gear rushed up the stairs, weapons raised. "Federal agent?"
Trina called out, holding up her backup badge. "I have 12 victims secured in my truck outside. They need immediate medical attention. Ma'am, we've got ambulances standing by, one officer responded, training his rifle on Faulner. The building's about to go up.
We need to evacuate now. Trina pushed Faulner forward, keeping pressure on his wounded shoulder. The stairwell was filling with smoke, making visibility poor. She could hear the girls coughing in her truck outside, scared voices carrying through broken windows. They reached the ground floor as federal marshals burst through the main entrance.
Fire crews attacked the blaze with high pressure hoses, creating a wall of steam and smoke. Trina's legs trembled from blood loss, but she maintained her grip on Faulner. "Get those girls out first," she shouted to the rescue teams. My truck's parked against the north wall. Medics rushed past with stretchers and oxygen tanks.
The girls emerged one by one, wrapped in emergency blankets, some barely conscious from the cold of the storage unit. Others clung to each other, sobbing as paramedics guided them to waiting ambulances. Faulner tried to twist away in the chaos, but Trina drove her knee into the back of his leg. "Don't even think about it," she growled. A familiar voice cut through the noise.
Agent Daniels. Officer Diaz pushed through the crowd, his face bruised and uniform torn. He clutched a USB drive in his shaking hand. I got out, picked the lock after Rusk left. I have everything.