Previously, Matthias Foster reveals to the reader that he has a secret detonator hidden in his pocket that no one knows about! Not even Natalie. Yes, the very same Natalie who he assumed would bang him but did not.
Chapter 42:
Oh, yeah! And Jake and Cal Granderson realized that they have to put their vastly different ideologies aside to work together to free the hostages.
This chapter opens with the two men collaborating on a plan to free the rest of the hostages.
Granderson said. “So if we’re gonna get the son of a bitch who’s behind this, we don’t have very long.”
The same thought had occurred to Jake. He nodded and said, “If Foster’s telling the truth about being able to blow up the whole place, or even just part of it, he’s more likely to push the damn button if he sees a bunch of SWAT types running in here. Two guys might have a better chance of taking him out.”
“Two guys like us, eh?” Granderson sneered. “Doesn’t make us friends.”
Johnstone, William W.. Trigger Warning (p. 355). Pinnacle Books. Kindle Edition.
Who said anything about friendship? Does Granderson think that Jake’s ulterior motive here is to make a surprise friendship blossom between them? Because actually I’m completely on board with that somehow being Jake’s true motivation here. I want the book to retcon itself and convince us that all along Jake has had his eye on Cal Granderson and his friendship.
Then we get the most bizarre and roundabout description of an in-use elevator that I have ever had the pleasure of reading.
Jake figured he and Granderson would go down the stairwell, but as he turned in that direction, his gaze happened to land on the small elevator tucked into a corner. The library was an old building that had been remodeled numerous times over the years, so he figured the elevator had been added at some point to make it ADA-compliant.
The really interesting thing about it, though, was that the downward-pointing arrow on the panel above the doors was lit. That meant the elevator was descending from an upper floor.
Johnstone, William W.. Trigger Warning (pp. 355-356). Pinnacle Books. Kindle Edition.
First, we get a HISTORY LESSON ON WHY THE ELEVATOR MIGHT HAVE BEEN ADDED. I don’t think any single reader out there was going to question a college library having an elevator.
Then the book has the audacity to say “the really interesting thing about it” as though any single word proceeding that might have been mistaken for interesting.
Anyway, after that strange detour, astute readers might suddenly understand that the elevator is in use. Jake and Granderson run toward the elevator, and Jake manages to stop it before it descends to a lower level.
Reactions on both sides were almost instantaneous. They had to be, because the doors had started to slide closed again. Jake and Granderson crouched and poured lead into the cubicle.
Johnstone, William W.. Trigger Warning (p. 356). Pinnacle Books. Kindle Edition.
I’m not going to lie to you, the phrase “poured lead” was a new one for me, and I was deeply confused for a few seconds there.
Granderson gets shot! But he’s not going to give up so easily! Yeah, you have to stay alive until you’re ready to declare your everlasting friendship to Jake, Granderson! Don’t let me down now!
But actually it turns out the guys in the elevator are already dead, so there’s no need for Granderson to be ready for anything else. Yay?
OR IS THERE. Because he has a new crazy plan to go down the elevator and…run into the line of fire since apparently he’s dying anyway.
“Won’t matter. Blood’s already leaking . . . into my lungs and guts. I won’t make it. But I can distract him . . . and anybody he’s got left on his side . . . while you hit them . . . from the other direction.”
Johnstone, William W.. Trigger Warning (p. 358). Pinnacle Books. Kindle Edition.
You can tell from the number of ellipses that things are truly dire for Cal Granderson.
“Blast it, you just want to make some show-off play and be the hero—”
“Why . . . shouldn’t I be?” “Because you’re such an asshole!” Jake burst out.
“Yeah? Well, so are you, Rivers!”
They stared at each other for a second, then both men laughed.
Johnstone, William W.. Trigger Warning (p. 358). Pinnacle Books. Kindle Edition.
No, Granderson. You can’t die! Not when you and Jake have finally put your differences aside and become BFFs. Think of all the frozen yogurt you two could eat together!
We jump back to Foster’s POV, and he quickly surmises that Jake Rivers must have stopped his men from reaching his floor.
Even though Foster was ready, he still jumped back slightly as a bloody, grinning apparition lurched toward them. The thing held a gun that spat fire at them as he stumbled forward.
Johnstone, William W.. Trigger Warning (p. 360). Pinnacle Books. Kindle Edition.
Can you imagine if Granderson had straight-up turned into a zombie? Because that’s how this reads, and I’d be here for that.
Foster and his remaining henchman open fire on Granderson.
There was no way the guy could still be alive, but Foster would have sworn that his grin widened even more, just for a second, and his eyes burned even brighter with hate and something else…
Johnstone, William W.. Trigger Warning (p. 360). Pinnacle Books. Kindle Edition.
THE POWER OF FRIENDSHIP THAT COMES FROM REACHING ACROSS THE POLITICAL AISLE?
Triumph?
Johnstone, William W.. Trigger Warning (p. 360). Pinnacle Books. Kindle Edition.
Same diff.
Foster makes a strategic run for the hostages so that Jake won’t be able to get a clean shot without risking hurting an innocent. We end with this thrilling cliffhanger!
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WAAAAA??? I never knew the lit arrow on an elevator panel meant it was currently traveling in that very direction. First I learned how a library works now this !!!!
It’s just one fun fact after another!
That is the most disappointment I have ever experienced after reading the words, “The really interesting thing was…”
Hahaha agree completely!