Chapter 6 - The Net Closes In
At 4:00 AM on December 29th, the State Police Tactical Unit launched Operation Blackwood.
Although Daniel and I were required to stay at the command center set up at the county sheriff's station thirty miles away, we were permitted to listen to the radio communications as the operation unfolded. Detective Miller sat with us, his face tense as the static-filled audio filled the room.
“Alpha Team in position at the southern ridge. Cold approach successful. No visual on target yet.”
“Bravo Team setting up sniper element on the eastern tree line. Generator is running. Lights visible on the ground floor.”
The sound of snow crunching under tactical boots could be heard faintly over the open radio channels.
I clutched a photo of Emma in my lap. Her bright, beautiful smile from her last birthday party looked back at me, a stark contrast to the dark, violent world unfolding over the radio waves.
“Command, this is Alpha Lead. We have movement near the rear porch. Target is visible through the kitchen window. Confirming identity... It’s Richard Pierce. He is carrying a long gun.”
My breath caught in my throat. Daniel grabbed my hand, his grip tight enough to cut off circulation.
“Alpha Lead, you are clear to initiate contact. Order him to surrender.”
Over the speaker, we heard the sharp, authoritative voice of the team leader amplified through a bullhorn:
“Richard Pierce! This is the State Police! You are surrounded! Drop your weapon and step out onto the porch with your hands above your head!”
A long, agonizing ten seconds of silence followed.
Then, a sudden, deafening CRACK echoed through the radio.
“Shots fired! Shots fired! Target is opening fire from the second-story window! Cover! Take cover!”
The radio exploded with the sound of rapid gunfire, glass shattering, and shouted orders. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird.
“Bravo Lead, do you have a line of sight?”
“Negative! He’s using heavy wooden shutters as cover! He’s shooting wildly into the tree line!”
“Deploy tear gas! Window two and three!”
The sound of dull thuds filled the channel as canister launchers fired tear gas rounds through the cabin windows.
“Gas deployed! Moving in for breach!”
“Wait—Alpha Lead, hold! Look at the roof!”
Static flared loudly on the frequency.
“Command! The cabin is on fire! Repeat, the cabin is on fire! Target has ignited an accelerant on the first floor!”
“No...” I gasped, standing up from my chair. “He’s burning it down!”
“Structure is fully engulfed! Flames spreading rapidly due to chemicals stored inside! Tactical units fall back! Fall back to safe distance!”
Over the radio, the roaring sound of dry pine logs catching fire mixed with the frantic calls of the officers retreating from the perimeter.
“Is he inside?” Detective Miller shouted into his radio console. “Alpha Lead, is Richard Pierce still inside the building?”
“Unknown, Command! Smoke is too thick! We saw him move toward the rear basement exit right before the explosion!”
Daniel stood up next to me, his voice deadly serious. “He isn't burning himself alive. He’s using the fire as a smoke screen to reach the lake.”
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Detective Miller looked up at Daniel. “The lake?”
“There’s a boathouse at the edge of Blackwood Lake,” Daniel realized, grabbing the map off the table. “He bought that property because the lake connects to the northern river system that crosses into Canada! If he gets on a boat under the cover of that smoke, he’s gone!”
