Red Storm

A massive dust storm covers southern Arizona extending miles wide and at least a mile high. In the middle of this, a lone motorcyclist races toward an isolated location – a legal office on the side of the highway. Once inside, RYDER realizes his contact, GRAYSON HESS, has not arrived. Worried, Ryder calls former cellmate, TYSON for advice. The ex-con preaches patience due the storm. Ryder then calls his ex-wife, MELISSA, asking to wish his son “Happy Birthday”, but she reminds him of a restraining order. A car pulls up and Ryder is surprised to meet GENEVA who claims she’s arrived for a meeting with Hess. The two ask probing questions, each poking holes at the other’s story. Windows are damaged by the storm, forcing them to work together to reinforce the glass with duct tape. Soon after, the power goes out. While Ryder checks the circuit breaker, Geneva unlocks a desk drawer to reveal a pistol but, keeps it hidden. They hear a car crash outside and the driver, DALLAS, comes to the door for help. He reveals himself to be a police detective investigating the theft of the GELDMACHER CUP. Suspecting guilt, Dallas attacks Ryder forcing Geneva to use the gun she found earlier to save him. Geneva realizes Ryder had actually stolen the Cup under direction from Hess. Ryder admits this and goes to retrieve the cup from the closet. In doing so, he accidentally causes a picture to fall in front of him. It’s a wedding photo showing that Geneva is Hess’s ex-wife. Two police arrive demanding entry. Dallas makes a deal with the duo to get the cops to go away if they give him the cup. Geneva agrees and Dallas lets the cops in. He quickly deduces that they aren’t real cops and kills them both. Dallas takes the cup and then turns his gun on Ryder but, is shot and killed by Geneva. Ryder searches the fake cops and finds evidence proving that Tyson had hired them to steal the cup. HESS finally arrives and is shocked at what he sees. Not only are there dead bodies, but he assumes Ryder and Geneva are a romantic item. After berating Ryder for the chaos in front of them, Geneva reminds him that Dallas was a collector for the buyer, DEVIN WASSERMAN, who was intent on killing Hess as soon as he had the cup. Realizing he can no longer try to deal with Wasserman, Hess considers selling the cup back to its original owner, but Geneva forces him to simply return it to avoid the temptation of crime. Ryder also threatens Hess to tell a family court judge to restore custody of his children to Geneva or be implicated in the crime. Disgruntled, Hess agrees to all terms leaves with the cup in hand. Geneva, a museum authenticator, informs Ryder that the cup was actually a fake and realizes that Ryder intends to stay and take the blame for the entire events of the day. Though she offers to send legal help, he implores her to keep her distance and avoid anything that might cause suspicion. Geneva offers to take him to his son, but he refuses, admitting he finally understands the reasoning behind the restraining order on him. The storm obliterates a window right between them forcing Geneva to leave. Ryder calmly sits down and dials 911 as the storm finally dissipates.