January Gets Her Gunn

Chapter 1-2

A radio patrol unit with lights out rounded the corner, sliding to the curb behind the Detective unit. “Tom Thirteen, Ten-Ninety-Seven with Mr. Carling.”

“Ten-Four Thirteen, sit tight,” the Sergeant responded.

Minutes ticked by. When the Sergeant reached the east corner of the silver shop, January sent Gunn across the street. God, he’s fast and not a sound. He really is like a ghost. She wiped the sweat off first one palm and then the other. A slight breeze ruffled her hair. It felt good, finally doing what she’d studied for, what she wanted to do half of forever.

“Peter Four, we’re at the edge of the roof and it’s a doubled rope for rappelling. They’ve chopped a three-foot hole in the roof.”

“Ten-Four, Eight. Challenge the look-out. All units, it’s about to hit the fan.”

January took a better stance, her left shoulder braced against the tree. Clicking off the safety, she raised the rifle to her shoulder, keeping her finger out of the trigger guard.

“POLICE OFFICERS.”

Even expecting it, she jumped at the boom of the loud speaker. Two powerful spot lights illuminated the man on the roof.

“TELL YOUR ACCOMPLICES TO GO TO THE FRONT DOOR AND SURRENDER.”

January saw the look-out put something to his face. The lights helped her line her sights on the man.

“DROP IT! YOU HAVEN’T GOT A CHANCE.”

January slipped her finger into the trigger guard, took a deep breath, and let half of it out. Her front sight centered on the man’s chest.

“GET YOUR HANDS IN THE AIR. TURN AND WALK TO THE FRONT PARAPET.”

The man moved to the roof edge, his hands held high. One of the lights went out. January caught the movement on the wall behind the man. She’d begun to shake. She took another deep breath and let half out.

She centered the front sight on the man’s torso, silhouetted in bright light. Another figure appeared on the wall. Then two figures suddenly appeared on either side of the man. January slid her finger out of the trigger guard as she let out her breath. She watched the brief struggle, keeping her rifle at the ready. Then she heard the next call over the radio, “Okay, we got him and he’s cuffed.”

“Ten-Four. Yell down the hole and tell those inside to come to the front door with their hands up. Thirteen, bring Mr. Carling’s keys but have him stay in your car until we get these birds sacked. I don’t want him to get hurt.”

Thirteen answered. “Ten-Four, Sarge.” January heard the officers on the roof yelling at the burglars inside. She started the breathing exercise again. She needed the extra oxygen to keep from shaking apart with surging adrenaline.

“Peter Six Bravo. Put the rifle away and come across the street and join Gunn and Me.”

“Ten-Four, Sergeant.” January couldn’t help grinning. Wow! Almost like television. I’m glad that part is over. I guess we’ll have to go into the store and get the others. That’s scary. At the car, January put the rifle and magazine in their proper places.

The sergeant didn’t say to put away the brick. Maybe I’d better keep it. I don’t know the Department policy yet, but I think this calls for a loaded pistol. She took her pistol from the holster, pulled back the slide then let it slip home, putting a round in the chamber. Setting the safety, she returned the weapon to the holster. Closing the car trunk gently, she jogged across the street to join Sergeant Wilson and Gunn.

Wilson studied January for a minute, then nodded and smiled. “Farrell, you did okay there under the tree, spotting the rappelling ropes and me coming down the sidewalk. I hadn’t given my location, so you couldn’t have known it was me. Boy, I felt like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar. I should have informed everyone of my location. You handled it like a pro.”

Jan felt her face warm, and knew she was blushing. The Sarge is a great guy. He’s letting me off the hook and making me feel good. I’ll work hard for this man. “Thanks Sarge. I should have known it was you.”

“Not for a while, Farrell, until you’ve seen me walk enough to recognize my gait.” He chuckled. “Hey, this is your first night on the job. Nobody expects you to walk on water, leap tall buildings in a single bound, or get in a pushing match with a locomotive. Rookies can make mistakes, just not too many. So lighten up, right now you’re batting close to a thousand.”

“Thank you, Sergeant Wilson.”. January glanced at Gunn to see if the Sergeant’s manner was getting through to him. Gunn was standing there relaxed with an enigmatic smile on his handsome face. What’s this big lug thinking? He acts like he’s sitting on the right hand of God.

Thad watched the byplay between Farrell and the Sergeant. She’s getting her ego inflated. Soon be time to pop her balloon. She may be bright and beautiful, but she’s a rookie, and needs to be treated as one. She’s going to have to learn sympathy is a luxury rookies don’t deserve or receive.

“All right,” Sergeant Wilson spoke up. “This is our game plan. We’ve gotta go inside and dig those turkeys out. Gunn, you’ll search the right side of the store, I’ll take the middle and Alvarez the left. Shapiro will cover Alvarez and me, while Farrell will cover you and me. I’ll go in first, then Alvarez, you next Gunn, Shapiro and then Farrell.”

Nodding, Thad saw Farrell do the same. Her expression was serious, but he could discern no panic. Maybe she’ll do.

“We’ll go in loaded and unlocked, about five feet and stop. Gunn, you, me and Alvarez will move together. Farrell, as the last one in, close the door as you move to the right. Don’t silhouette yourself in the show window. Watch the spaces around me and Gunn. Don’t use your flashlight, unless you have a target. Gunn and I don’t need to be back-lighted. Anyone not in uniform in front of you is a target. But don’t shoot unless there is a clear danger to me, Gunn or yourself. Can you handle it?”

“Yes, sir.” Nodding, Farrell again looked at Thad.

Damn, her eyes sparkle. She’s up and excited. My back is already starting to crawl. I hate this kind of deal. Thad moved his shoulders in a slight shrug.

“Farrell, I don’t know you yet, so I have to ask you this question.” Sergeant Wilson’s tone and expression were serious. “Do you think you can shoot a person?”

Like she had with Thad in the car, Farrell looked directly at the Sergeant. “Yes sir. As I told Officer Gunn, I reconciled myself to the possibility a long time ago, when I started carrying a firearm. I can handle it.”

Gunn looked at her, still not completely sure. “How about under the tree tonight?”

“I had the safety off, finger on the trigger and sights on the center of mass until the two officers on the roof took the lookout down. I was ready to shoot if I had to.”

I think she really was ready. Thad nodded at the Sergeant.

“Okay, you two wait here, while I brief Alvarez and Shapiro. I’ll signal when we’re ready to move. Don’t make targets of yourselves when you approach the door.” Sergeant Wilson turned and scuttled to the other side of the store front.

Thad found himself watching Farrell watch the Sergeant. I’m a sucker for dark red hair and green eyes. It’s going to be hard to stay impersonal. “Got a round in the chamber? There won’t be time to charge your pistol once inside.”

“Yes. It’s c****d but the safety’s on.”

“Good.” That’s a surprise. Most rookies had to be told to carry their pistols with a round in the chamber. She didn’t learn that in the Marines. Must’a been at ALETA.

“How about your flashlight?”

“Brand new bulb and batteries today. I checked it out before I came to work.”

Damn! I can’t believe this. He glanced at her, one eyebrow c****d in surprise.

“Hey, I’ve had flashlights go out when I needed them most. It’s difficult to go crashing through the woods in the dark looking for the potty when you’re out camping. Been there, done that. I’m a big girl now. The Captain told me I’d be working from 2200 to 0600. The sun doesn’t come up until around 0530, so I figured I might have to use my flashlight.”

I must’ve given myself away or she can read minds. Hey! Are you reading my mind? Farrell didn’t blink an eye. Guess not.

“Most rookies show up with cheap flimsy flashlights, but you have a Kel-Light, why?”

“You don’t remember the flashlights the Corps issued? I got mine the same way you probably got yours—I was top scorer on the range at ALETA.”

“Yeah, I remember those plastic excuses the Corp issued. You had to use a match to see if they were lit.”

Farrell laughed, remembering to mute the sound with her hand. God, she’s lovely when she laughs. With her looks and brains, she doesn’t need to be a cop. She could do a lot better in some other line of work. I’m going to do my damnedest to get her to quit. The sooner, the better.

“Okay, there’s the signal. Follow me.” Thad squatted to duck-walk to the door.

January followed Gunn’s lead. Nice buns. Just as I suspected, he wears jockey shorts. Maybe that’s the source of his attitude—they’re too tight. She struggled to stifle a giggle. Oh God, here we are, going into a dark store full of burglars and I’m thinking about that big lug’s buns. Better get back to business.

January could feel the butterflies starting their dog-fights in her belly. She renewed her deep breathing regimen. Gotta get the adrenaline under control or I won’t be worth anything.

They were all crouched close together in front of the door, pistols drawn and flashlights in hand. January sensed the odor of the men, a mixture of sweat, aftershave, and masculinity.

Can they smell me? Is this the odor of fear? January Farrell, you’re scared! God, yes I’m scared. I don’t want to screw up and cause one of these guys to get hurt. No, I’m trained. I can do it. I can do it!

“Everybody ready?” Sergeant Wilson looked back over his shoulder. Each answered in turn. Wilson put the key in the lock and turned it. “Okay, let’s do it!” He shoved the door open and sprang forward.

January waddled in at Shapiro’s back until she, too, was inside the door. She hooked the door with her right elbow and shoved it closed. Moving to the right, she crouched, her pistol pointed at the ceiling, her left hand holding the flashlight away from her body. The single light above the safe threw a lot of shadows. Swinging her head slowly, she kept her gaze constantly moving back and forth as she tried to control her breathing. Her heart pounded in her ears as she watched the sergeant and Gunn inch forward.

Careful guys, I don’t want to see anyone hurt. Easy does it. January peered into the shadows, afraid of what she might see. Her eyes stung from the strain, but she didn’t dare relax, even for a second.

Sergeant Wilson, Alvarez, and Gunn started creeping towards the back of the shop, peering into the shadows and behind display cases. January felt the tension building. She kept sweeping her gaze in an arc from the center to the right wall.

They’re moving like they have done this together a thousand times. It’s almost as if the sergeant was counting cadence. I didn’t know cops worked like this. They sure didn’t mention it at the Academy.

She heard a slight rustling noise to her right. Searching in the direction of the sound, she saw a figure rise slowly from behind a display case. “Freeze!” January snapped on her flashlight and brought her pistol to the point without a pause. “Get your hands up! Face the wall!”