Chapter 2

The clown woman seemed quite satisfied with my husband's "heroic" performance. She gave a close-up shot of the detonation device.

It was a device linked to the citywide Christmas fireworks show controller.

"Captain Sarah, do you see it clearly? Tonight's midnight bells will be the death knell for your family!"

"Countdown—less than twenty minutes remaining."

She paused, then burst into maniacal laughter.

"Oh, right, I forgot to tell you. This detonator is dual-function."

"Not only can the controller trigger it, but I've also installed a voice-activated receiver in the chandelier in your living room."

"As soon as you say the three words 'I choose' followed by the name of the person you want to save, the other one will explode instantly!"

I glanced up at the ornate crystal chandelier overhead and let out a soft sigh.

Then I turned my gaze to my mother-in-law behind me.

"Laura, you heard that. It's not that I don't want to save them—the kidnapper isn't giving me any chance."

"One is my husband, one is my son. They're both precious to me. Tell me, how can I choose?"

My mother-in-law Laura's face turned red then white. Her lips trembled, unable to speak.

Just as I was about to say more, the door was violently burst open and a group of SWAT officers rushed in.

Leading them was my deputy, Lieutenant Davis.

He looked grave as he quickly walked up to me.

"Captain Sarah, this is urgent. We can't locate the kidnapper in such a short time, and we can't disable the connection to the city's fireworks system."

He glanced at me and lowered his voice.

"The higher-ups have given strict orders. We must ensure civilian safety and can't cause mass panic, so..."

Before he could finish, my father-in-law rushed forward excitedly.

"You heard that! Your colleague is telling you to choose! What are you waiting for! Do you want to get the whole city killed?"

I crushed out my cigarette and slowly stood up.

"Lieutenant Davis, everyone, I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. I won't make any choice!"

"The hostages' fate should be decided by us police officers, not by criminals!"

As my words fell, the entire room went silent.

Everyone looked at me like I was insane.

My mother-in-law's eyes rolled back and she collapsed straight down, fortunately caught by a nearby officer.

"Sarah! You evil woman!"

My father-in-law pointed at my nose, his voice trembling.

"That's your family! How can you... how can you just watch them die? Do you have any humanity left?"

Lieutenant Davis couldn't help but try to persuade me.

"Captain Sarah, we know this is difficult. But given the current situation, saving one is better than losing both."

"Yes, Captain Sarah, no matter who you choose, we'll understand. The citizens will understand too."

Facing everyone's "well-meaning advice," I laughed coldly.

"Easy for you to say."

"If it were you today, wife or child, which would you choose?"

I swept my gaze across everyone present. They all lowered their heads, not daring to meet my eyes.

"I've been a cop for ten years and defused more bombs than you've eaten meals!"

"My duty is to save lives, not to judge who deserves to live!"

"Today is no different!"

After hearing my words, my father-in-law completely exploded, raising his fist to strike me.

But just as his fist was about to hit my nose, Lieutenant Davis's radio suddenly crackled.

"Lieutenant Davis! We've located the kidnapper!"

Davis immediately led his team out.

I didn't move, just quietly watched the screen.

On screen, the clown woman lost patience seeing I wasn't responding.

A stun baton appeared in her hand, its blue electric arc crackling ominously in the dim background.

"Captain Sarah, it seems I need to give you a taste of consequences before you'll make a choice!"

With that, she viciously jabbed the stun baton into my husband James's side.

James let out an inhuman scream, his body convulsing violently as he curled into a ball.

The citizens watching the broadcast gasped in horror.

In the corner, my son Bobby burst into wailing tears.

The clown woman, wearing her mask, spoke in a distorted, crazed voice.

"Captain Sarah, you should have received the remote control, right?"

"Oh wait, I forgot—there's no remote this time!"

"Fifteen minutes until the fireworks show. Starting now, every minute that passes, your husband gets to enjoy another round of electrotherapy!"

"Until you speak up!"

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