“This shit’s gotta fucking end,” Gordy growled from my right.
I had to agree. Being shot at wasn’t my most favorite thing, even if I was mostly behind the ACP parked sideways in the shooter’s yard.
I didn’t get a chance to express this opinion to Gordy.
“Six-ten, you copy?” My captain’s call rang in my earpiece from the command van parked three houses down.
“Six-ten, go,” I returned.
“Take out those goddamn streetlights behind you.”
“Copy.”
Gordy dipped his chin and moved to cover me as I shifted and took aim.
My gloved finger slipped into the trigger guard, crosshairs dead center on the streetlight, then a volley of gunfire sounded off behind me and I flinched.
Fucking, fucking, shit.
“Get it, Sunny!” Gordy shouted.
On an inhale I lined back up, and on a natural, slow exhale I pressed the trigger. The light exploded and extinguished. As quickly as I could I took out the other three nearby and plunged the surrounding area into darkness.
More gunfire erupted as soon as I took my position and Gordy moved back to his original place.
It sounded like a goddamn warzone.
“Charlie team standby,” Cap came over the radio.
“About goddamn time,” Gordy grouched.
“Alpha team, that’s a no-go on the front door. You have a fatal funnel and no eyes. Brake and rake A-side windows. Standby.”
A moment later Valentine and Mereno were behind the ACP along with Chip and Riddle. Valentine’s rifle hung by the sling at his side and in his hands was the long metal pole he’d use to rake out the window. Riddle and Chip each held the riot shields in case Valentine needed cover.
McCarthy, Soloman, Reyes, Watson, Guzman, and Jim were behind the second ACP in their own huddle waiting for the go-ahead.
“This is a mistake,” Riddle muttered. “Two occupants and we only have eyes on one shooter.”
No sooner had the statement left Riddle’s mouth than a spray of bullets peppered the ACP. Thank fuck for the armor plating.
“It’s only by a miracle he hasn’t started taking out his neighbors’ houses,” Chip put in. “I don’t like going in blind any more than you do, Riddle. But this shit has to end before someone gets killed.”
“Alpha. Bravo.” The captain’s call cut off any further discussion. “In three, two, go.”
Chip and Riddle took off in a full sprint, Valentine on their heels, Gordy close to Valentine’s back, then I took up the rear. Gordy and I had our rifles up pointed at the window, covering the three men preceding us. Mereno hung back at the ACP with Reyes and they were returning fire as more bullets rang out.
I heard the glass shattering. In my peripheral Chip and Riddle were shuffling. To my far right, I saw Soloman raking out his window, Guzman and Watson holding shields.
Standard.
Textbook.
This whole scenario had been practiced a thousand times.
We all knew our places. We moved together as one.
But something was off. It felt different.
Dread hit my stomach and I scanned the yard, the windows, the front porch.
Nothing.
Everything went silent. No gunfire, no orders being called out, no loud hailer yelling to the suspect.
Calm.
Only my heartbeat and fast exhales.
Riddle was right. This felt wrong.
Valentine was through the window, Chip was almost through, and I scanned again.
Then the world around me exploded in a hail of bullets, grunts, and pain-filled shouts.
25
I was finishing up my third and final beer, watching Echo sink ball after ball, giving his brother no chance of winning. This was the second game Echo had won. And I was due to play the winner. It wasn’t that Phoenix sucked, Echo was just that good. Phoenix had only had his cue on the felt twice.
“You mentioned Shepard earlier,” Phoenix said from beside me. “Where’s Ethan at with that?”
“Guy fled Alabama. Stayed under the radar but yesterday the ex-wife called Ethan and swears she thought she saw Shepard.”
“She thinks?” Phoenix questioned.
“She hasn’t seen Shepard in ten years. She was at the grocery store and the guy was at the end of the aisle wearing a baseball hat. She said she didn’t get a good look but she was almost positive. Ethan’s trying to get the store’s surveillance footage but they want a warrant.”
“Have that guy who works for you hack the footage.”
My lips twitched and I chuckled.
“His name’s Dylan,” I told him. “Thought you cops frowned on breaking the law.”
“This cop frowns on a killer walking the streets.”
“I hear that. We’re working on getting Ethan what he needs. But we’re doing