Second Time Around

Unexpected Target

*Officer Newman*

After I got the call from Katrina, I raced to Charlie's house. I was driving so fast that one of my colleagues pulled me over.

"Oh, Amber. I didn't realize it was you. Why were you going so fast?" he asked. I explained as quickly as I could, and he told me to follow him. He was going to escort me to Charlie's with his lights on, so I didn't get pulled over again.

When we pulled up to the house, Kat came running out in complete panic. She explained to me what they found when they got home, and handed me the note that was found with the knife.

I read what it said, and I asked her to go inside. I got my colleagues' kit out of the trunk to see if we could find any kind of fingerprints on the paper.

"Paul, I need you to do something for me while I speak with Katrina and her guardian. They found this stabbed into a door frame with a knife. Could you run it for prints?" I asked. He kindly agreed, and said he had called the situation into the station for me as well. I thanked him, and he asked where the knife was, and I wasn't sure.

"It's probably still in the house. Let's just go inside and do all of this. It's probably for the best anyway. I have a feeling someone is watching the house, so it's better we don't do this out here," I told him.

Luckily, he agreed, and as we walked inside to speak with Kat and Charlie.

"Katrina?" I called out. She and Charlie came from the back room, and met me in the kitchen. "Kat, hon, where is the knife that was stuck to the wall?" I asked.

She pointed to the table, and apologized for touching it. I told her she was fine, but we would need to get her fingerprints to be able to identify any other prints besides hers. She agreed to give them, and we got that out of the way.

Charlie had made some coffee, and we all sat at the table while Kat explained what they had walked in on.

"When we got home, Charlie was shutting the gate in the driveway, and I just went to the house. We always use the back door, but when I came up to it, the door was wide open. I almost didn't go inside, but when I did, the table was turned over, chairs were thrown about, and they had shattered some of the dishes that were on the counter. The mess only got worse as I made my way through the house. I had probably passed that note in the doorway at least 4 times before noticing it. That's when I called you," Kat explained.

As she was telling us about everything, her phone rang. It was a call she had been waiting all day for, apparently, and excused herself to answer it.

I tried not to eavesdrop, so I started to chat with Charlie. He was slightly shaken up, but nothing like Kat. Suddenly, we heard her break out into sobs. Both of us got up from where we were sitting, and walked to where she was. Her phone was on the floor, and I could hear a male voice at the other end.

I picked up her phone and explained that Kat was in no condition to talk. I asked who I was speaking to, and he told me his name was Seth Davis. I remembered right away who he was, and explained what had happened to Kat throughout the day today. I went into every detail, and expressed to him how important it was to her that he keep his nose clean and wits about him while there.

He thanked me for telling him, and then told me that he had been jumped earlier today. I told him I knew, and that I also knew who the inmate was who jumped him.

He seemed surprised by that information, because he said he didn't even know the guy's name. I explained to him that the guy was a part of the same motorcycle club that Greg Nolan was, and the tone of his voice changed.

"So, they are targeting me to get to her. They are in for a rude awakening, Officer Newman. I'm not some b***h boy who will just lay down and take what they do to me. However, I promise not to go looking for trouble," he promised.

Kat had finally calmed down enough to speak to him, and when she returned to the phone, I could hear her tell him her version of things. My heart broke once again for this young girl. Eighteen years old, and the weight of the world on her shoulders.

She ended the call, and said she was going to see him in the morning. That seemed to make her feel better and have a little hope for a good day.

My colleague left, and said he would do the paperwork and report for me, and I was beyond grateful for that. I helped Katrina and Charlie clean the rest of the mess while Charlie fixed the door locks.

Once everything was secure, I told Kat I was going to head home. "Do not hesitate to call me if anything else happens. Keep the doors and windows locked, and curtains closed if it makes you feel more safe. I'll call you tomorrow," I told her.

She and Charlie both gave me hugs and thanked me for once again coming to their rescue. I told them that they didn't have to keep thanking me, and grabbed the container Kat gave me with a slice of chocolate cake in it.

What started out as a distress call, has quickly turned into a situation that gave me peace. Befriending the young girl has become a blessing in my life, and I hoped this friendship was a lasting one. She needed a female she could look up to, and I guess I needed someone to help take care of.

As I was driving towards my house, I got an eerie feeling that I was being followed. So, instead of going home, I went to the precinct. It was now shift change, so what I was about to do wouldn't be too noticeable.

"Hey chief, I need to take a squad car home tonight. Long story, and I'll explain tomorrow," I hollered out. Chief Holland just threw up his hand and told me to have a good night.

I went down to the parking garage and got into my squad car I had driven earlier, and followed the others out as they went on patrol. If someone was watching for me, it would be hard to detect which car was mine.

I quickly drove home and put my car in the garage, something I normally wouldn't do, but tonight, I couldn't be too cautious.

Once I was in the house, I grabbed a glass of milk, and sat down to eat my cake. I didn't turn the lights on, only the TV, and sat down to watch the news. I was about halfway through my cake when I heard someone trying to turn my doorknob on the front door.

I sat my cake down, and grabbed my firearm from the kitchen table. I peeked out the front window to see if I could see who it was, but the bush by the door kept me from getting a clear view.

I could hear two male voices, but didn't recognize either one. They were talking about reporting back to their boss that I wasn't at home when, suddenly, one of them kicked my door in.

I yelled at them to freeze, but neither listened, so I raised my gun and shot towards my intruders. Both men were hit, however, one still got away. He was very wounded, so I didn't know how he was able to run off.

After I calmed down, I called the precinct and asked for assistance. I sat on the couch, gun still in hand, until they arrived. I think I was in shock because apparently the only thing I kept saying when help arrived was, "Now they are targeting me."