"You've had your fun. I'm done now."
"Fine." She fluffed his pillows. "If you hurt her—"
"Why would I? She's perfect."
Taken aback, Maddox stared at him a long time. Without another word, she left. He wasn't entirely sure, but he thought she might have been recording their conversation. He hadn't lied, though he'd skirted the truth, obfuscated, omitted details, but not lied. He'd lied the entire time he'd been with Clarise, but she had lied to him, too.
Newton and Eilene woke in one another's arms. She'd set the alarm early enough that they could make love before getting ready for work. He highly approved of her plan, and got right on task.
"We need groceries," he said as they got ready to go.
"Who has time to shop?"
"You can order them, they shop, for a fee, and you pick them up. My sister told me."
"Why don't you do it, then?"
He shrugged. "Just haven't."
"We'll make a list and order."
"Your place or mine? Lady's choice."
"Some for both. You at least need coffee."
"Good point. Would you like to come to my house after work?"
"I'd like that."
"Good. Let's be sure to pick up groceries on the way home."
With an overnight in mind, she packed a bag, which they put in the trunk. After a stop for a quick meal, they drove to work. Shortly after changing into their uniforms, a call came in.
"Shots fired, Marion and 171st," Trina announced.
"They need SWAT for that?" Canon asked.
"Automatic weapons, and some bozo set off a rocket launcher."
"F**k," Newton said.
Eilene froze. Canon's sharp eye saw her.
"You can sit this one out, kid," he said gently.
"You need me, sir."
"I need you in the moment, not the past, Sergeant. Can you be there fully?"
"I—No."
"You stay. Harvey, you're my two."
"Yes, sir." He put his hand on Eilene's shoulder. "No shame in this, baby girl." He kissed her forehead.
Newton didn't get a chance to say anything, though he smiled at her as he left. Eilene didn't notice, she was too deep in her own world.
They rushed out, gathering in the truck. Newton was driving, as that was usually Harvey's job.
"Stay sharp," Cannon bellowed when they arrived. "We're two down. Oats was dumb f**k, but he was another set of eyes. Newton, find a perch." He handed over a sniper's gear bag.
"Copy that, sir." He eyed the terrain, lots of tall buildings, most with muddled fields of vision. He spotted a good one, across the alley from the one where the shots were fired. "Going up there, sir," he told Harvey.
"Good choice. Prince, with Newton."
"Copy that."
Soon, they were all in position. There were no more rockets in the sky, but there was still sporadic gunfire. This area of town was dark, as the streetlights got shot out on a regular basis. Newton scanned the area with his scope, switching to thermal to make another pass.
"Two people crouched on the roof of the building. Third prone, cooling."
"Dammit," Canon said.
"Movement, sir. Street level, entering the building," Harvey said.
"See them up top?" Prince asked.
"They look like they're fighting, sir," Newton reported.
"Get me inside," Canon said.
"Already got access," Cage, the tech guy announced. "Third floor and climbing. They look armed and aggressive."
"How many civilians inside?" Canon asked.
Cage switched screens. "One hundred and seven residents—including the super and his family. At this hour, probably mostly in bed." It was after midnight.
"Movement on the roof." Newton announced.
"Harvey?"
"Inside, sir. Ten seconds." There was a pause. "That's it, boys. Go-go-go!"
"Metro SWAT, freeze!" Bailey bellowed. He had a deep, commanding bass, the kind of voice everyone took seriously.
The officers fanned out, surrounding the figures on the roof. Bailey checked the body. As suspected the young man was dead.
©2021 Dellani Oakes
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