Any number of scenarios could happen. There had to be a plan for each of them. They drove to the Weaver Street house with lights off, as to not draw attention. He parked opposite Jake and took position.
Jake knocked on the door.
The door cracked open, shut more quickly than it opened, but not before Jake stuck a foot in. “Mansboro PD with a warrant for Darien Micheals.”
Connor stood dead still, only moving his eyes. Watching the door, scanning the perimeter. Golden stood behind a tree on the far end of the property. Tanner stood closely behind Jake, ready to back him up at a split second.
“I know you’re there Michaels. We can do this the hard way or the easy way,” Jake yelled in.
The door opened again, and Michaels stepped on the porch.
Jake flashed the warrant. “Hands in the air and turn around slowly.”
Michaels obeyed.
Something was off. Michaels came out too easily.
Connor inched forward, nodded to Golden to do the same.
A gun shot rang out as Jake began to handcuff Michaels.
Someone yelled out a curse, and Jake stumbled. Blood ran down his arm.
“Officer down,” Connor called into the radio as he rushed forward.
Tanner was on the porch, wrapped in a scuffle with Akons, who presumably fired the shot. Connor hadn’t seen from his angle, but he ran after Michaels who ran across the yard. Golden, in closer proximity, reached Michaels first. He managed to tackle him, but Michaels still fought.
Connor jumped in and snapped the handcuffs on while Golden held him down. Out of breath but not energy, he led Michaels to the SUV and put him in the back. Went to the porch to check on Jake as Tanner led a handcuffed Akons to Jake’s unit.
The squeal of sirens broke into the scene. The chief himself jumped out and ran to check on Jake. A surface wound, thank goodness, but he’d be taken to the hospital regardless.
Though his heart raced from the rush, Connor kept a calm demeanor and took Michaels for booking at the jail. He’d spend the rest of his day writing narratives of the event and filing reports.
It beat watching surveillance videos, but he’d still have to get back to those tomorrow.
Chief Skaggs entered Connor’s office five minutes before shift change. “Michaels and Akons have been transferred to the county jail. Tanner and Golden finished searching the home and found a treasure trove of evidence that will please the D.A. They’ll be off the streets for a long time. Good work today.”
“How’s Jake?”
“He’ll be out for a few days, but he’s already complaining about the time off, so I’d saying he’s doing well.” Chief laughed, but Connor saw the worry in his eyes.
This line of work wasn’t for the faint of heart. The job was tough enough without having the weight of the entire unit on one’s shoulders. “You’re a good chief. It’s your leadership that prevents worse scenarios.”
“It doesn’t make it easier when one of your own gets hurt in the line of duty.” Chief Skaggs shook his head. “I have work to finish. Take it easy tonight, okay?”
“You too, Chief.”
Connor tied up his loose ends for the day and packed his briefcase with the work he planned to finish at home. His phone rang when he got in his unit.
He started the engine for the air condition to kick on, then answered the call from Tiffany.
She sounded frantic. “Are you okay? The news came on and said there was an officer shot.”
“I’m fine.” He groaned to himself, wondering who alerted the press.
“It wasn’t you that was shot, was it? I mean, you could have been shot and just saying you’re fine.”
“It wasn’t me,” he assured her, second guessing his decision not to call and tell her.
