The Sleeping Beauty Killer

72

Laurie rushed forward when she saw Angela careening backwards, she and her gun tumbling to the floor. Laurie lunged toward the weapon. Too late. She saw it slide into the elevator shaft, and then heard a clang from the first floor as the gun hit the metal cage two floors below.

Charlotte was bent over, her hands still tied behind her. Angela had regained her footing and was advancing toward Charlotte. Laurie saw the glimmer of a small silver blade.

“Get away!” Laurie called out as she rushed toward them. “She has a knife.”

Charlotte stumbled forward, fell, and curled her body into a ball. She tried to protect her face by pressing it against the floor.

Laurie ran toward Angela, then leapt on her back with all the force she could muster. They both fell to the ground. Angela was on her hands and knees, but her right fist was still clenched around the knife. All Laurie could think about was the blade of the box cutter. She could not let Angela get back up again, not while she had that blade.

She grabbed Angela’s right bicep and tugged it, trying to shake her grip on the knife.

Charlotte was no longer in a fetal position, but was still on the floor, kicking at Angela’s arms. Laurie managed to stagger back onto her feet. She stepped hard on Angela’s wrist, careful not to let her bare skin near the shimmering blade. She dug her weight hard against Angela’s bones until she saw her grip loosen. “Get the knife,” Laurie yelled. “Get it!”

Charlotte kicked the knife away from Angela’s hand, and Laurie lunged across the floor to grab it. “I got it,” she cried. She rushed toward Charlotte and cut her wrists free.

Angela had scrambled to her feet and was rushing toward them. She stopped when Laurie held up the box cutter. “Don’t make me do it, Angela!”

Angela’s shoulders slumped, as the reality of what had happened set in. She was out of options. Laurie heard the shriek of approaching sirens. When she turned to look out the window, Angela began running toward the staircase. She was halfway across the room when Leo, gun in hand, raced out from the staircase.

“Freeze. Down on the ground. Put your hands behind your head,” he shouted as he advanced toward Angela.

Moments later, there was a pounding on the stairs as several police officers rushed up and into the room. Leo held up his shield. “I’m Deputy Commissioner Farley.” He pointed at Angela. “Cuff her!”