Chapter 52

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Downtown Los Angeles, California, United States

Captain Tom Neal had only ever wanted to be a police officer. Since his earliest memory, he wanted to protect and uphold the law. That's because he believed that it was our duty to each other to do what was right. And as a police officer, he'd tried to do that by creating a sense of partnership with the community. He wanted citizens to trust him because he was good and fair. Captain Neal never wanted to lead by force or fear.

But the current administration of the LAPD was tarnishing the reputation that he'd worked hard to create. He was angrier about that than even the fact that he'd been fired from his dream job. But thankfully, a strange Rogue Rider unlike any other he'd ever encountered showed up and gave him a chance to save this city and the future. Gen Beaufont was different from anything Captain Neal had ever seen, but he believed that's what Los Angeles needed.

As Captain Neal approached the imposing facade of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, his heart raced with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation. The grand building loomed before him and his officers, its Art Deco design evidence of the wealth and power it housed within. The towering, grooved columns flanked the entrance—their pale stone gleamed softly in the street lights. The ornate bronze doors, adorned with intricate geometric patterns, stood as reinforced barriers, guarding the treasures that lay beyond.

Glancing up to the buildings where corrupt police officers were previously standing guard, Captain Neal was grateful to see that Gen had cleared the area, as promised. That left the Federal Reserve entrance open, which wasn't a door that most would take into a locked bank after hours.

However, Captain Neal wasn't breaking any laws. He was saving this city by doing things by the book. That's why he'd used one trusted contact with a connection to the bank to obtain one key card, a pair of keys and a set of security codes.

With a nod to his team, a hand-picked group of the LAPD's finest, Captain Neal swiped his key card and entered the first set of security codes. The lock disengaged with a soft click, and the doors swung open, revealing the cavernous lobby within.

The space was a marvel of marble and brass, with soaring ceilings and gleaming floors that reflected the soft glow of the emergency lights. The air was still and heavy with the weight of the building's purpose. There was a palpable sense of importance that seemed to permeate every corner.

The space, which would normally have guards at all hours, had been cleared of security by the bank robbers. Those guards worked for the Chief of Police and were stationed elsewhere, making Captain Neal's job a bit easier. All he had to do was escort his team through the bank, but there were still many things that could go wrong on their path.

As they moved deeper into the bank, Captain Neal's eyes scanned the shadows. His senses were heightened by the knowledge that danger could lurk around any corner. His team moved with practiced efficiency, each member taking up their assigned position, ready to unlock the next set of barriers that stood between them and their goal.

The deeper they ventured into the bank, the more complex the security measures became. Keycards, biometric scanners, and multi-level passcodes were just a few of the obstacles they encountered. But Captain Neal was prepared, his years of experience and meticulous planning guiding him through each challenge with a steady hand and a cool demeanor.

As they approached the vault area, the tension in the air grew thicker, the weight of their mission pressing down upon them like a heavy burden. The vault door loomed before them, a massive, circular behemoth of steel and concrete. Its surface was adorned with a complex array of gears and mechanisms that seemed to defy comprehension.

Captain Neal didn't allow its size or complexity to intimidate him. He'd done his homework. His contact connected to the Federal Reserve had prepared him for this. He wouldn't fluster now. With practiced grace, he stepped up to the security panel and steadied himself with a few breaths. Then he lifted his hand and knew it was best to take his time, but not delay too much.

He needed to act without hesitation because that's when mistakes were invited into situations. Clearing his mind, he referenced the codes and then his fingers flew across the keypad, entering the final set of digits with a speed and precision that spoke of countless hours of practice.

Standing back and feeling the tension from his team, he stared at the vault door. This was it. Either he'd led his team to success or he was the trespasser he was hoping to catch. If they set off the alarms now, then they'd be the bank robbers and arrested without question. How ironic that would be when they were here to catch real thieves. But this was the complex plan they'd come up with to stop Barry Fer and the Commissioner of Los Angeles. And all Captain Neal could do was hold his breath and hope it had worked—that it would work.

With a hiss of compressed air and the grinding of hidden gears, the vault door swung open. There were gasps from the police officers at Captain Neal's back as the vault opened to reveal the treasures that lay within. The room was awash in a soft, golden glow, the light reflecting off the countless stacks of neatly bundled bills and gleaming bars of precious metals. It was a sight that would have taken the breath away from lesser men, but Captain Neal remained focused, his eyes scanning the room for any signs of the enemy.

Deciding that the area was safe, Captain Neal signaled to his team. Then he lowered his chin, pressing his finger to his ear. "Gen, we're in position," he spoke softly into his comm, his voice steady and calm despite the adrenaline pumping through his veins. "Ready for your signal."

As he waited for her response, Captain Neal couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. The silence of the vault was almost too perfect, the stillness of the air too complete, making his nervousness heighten. He worried that the bad guys were out there somewhere, lurking in the shadows, waiting for their moment to strike. But he also knew that he had the best team in the city by his side, and with Gen watching their backs, they couldn't fail.

There was a soft crackle of static over the comm, and then Gen's voice, strong and clear echoed, "Copy that, Captain. Stand by for my signal. We've got this."

Captain Neal allowed himself a small smile, the tension in his shoulders easing ever so slightly. With Gen on their side, he knew that victory was within reach. They just had to stay sharp, stay focused and trust in each other. The bad guys might have the element of surprise, but they had something far more powerful: the unwavering determination to see justice served, no matter the cost.