A sharp, deafening CRASH of shattering glass echoed through the quiet desert night. The second man had rushed the patrol car, using a heavy steel punch to obliterate the front passenger window. Marcus gasped as he watched the man reach through the shower of broken glass, grabbing the bundle of packages directly off the front seat.
The primary suspect turned and bolted down the gravel shoulder toward their idling SUV, clutching the packages against his chest. Vance immediately lunged forward, drawing his baton to physically intercept the second accomplice who was trying to block the officer's path. The two men collided in a fierce struggle on the dark asphalt.
Marcus sat trapped on the ground, watching the fleeing man sprint into the darkness. A wave of pure panic hit him as he realized that if those packages vanished into the night, he would be left sitting in handcuffs with no explanation for what had just happened to his life.