"No problem, that's what friends are for." My phone rings, “S.E.X.” from Nickelback blares out of the speaker. I look at the caller ID and hit ignore. I can't talk to him right now. It immediately starts ringing again, and I reject his call…again.
"Someone you don't want to talk to? Want to discuss it with me?" Ever since our dinner last month, Derek’s been trying to find out whom I talk to all the time.
"I don't think it'd be a good idea. But thanks."
"Hey, I'm not trying to pry, just know you can't hold it in. You've listened to me. Let me return the favor. Like Dad said, it better not be your stalker. He hasn't resorted to calling you yet, has he?"
"No. Got another bouquet of roses I sent to the hospital last night. Maybe later we can talk." My phone continues to ring off the hook. I silence it and send him a quick text.
Me
Get the hint. I don't want to talk right now.
Duncan
I swear it was nothing. I need to explain, please.
Before I can send a reply, both Derek’s and my cell phones go off with the paging tone. Crap, time to work. He returns the call as I grab both our go bags and head for the door.
"We're on our way, about ten out. Meet you at the location. Text it to my phone. Yes, sir." He hangs up.
"What's up?" I ask as I set the alarm and lock the door behind us.
"Hostage situation. They want us to meet them on location. Is all your gear here?"
"Yep. Good idea I had yesterday in bringing it home."
We load into the SUV and head to the location the precinct texted him. As we pull up, I look around the neighborhood. It looks like an average blue-collar neighborhood, but I can see that a perimeter has been set up around a house at the end of the block. I can't see where they're going to want me to set up but figure they'll let me know.
"Captain," we both say as we walk up to him.
"Sierra and Echo, we want you to set up on the roof of that home over there." He points to a house about three down from the target. I notice other ERT members getting ready around us.
"What's the situation?" I ask.
"Husband has already killed his wife and is holding his two-year-old son hostage. I'll signal if I feel we need you to take the shot. First, I want you to get some infrared on that home and tell me what you see with both of your scopes. Officers last saw him in the living room in the front eastern quadrant. Got it? We've got Team Two set up on the south side of the house."
"Yes, sir." I walk back to my SUV and pull open the back. I get out my bag and start pulling on my gear. I didn’t have time to change out of my workout clothes, so I put the cargo pants over my shorts and the black shirt on over my T-shirt and button it up. My phone vibrates across the cargo area and I leave it. I need to focus on this situation, not Duncan. I put my tactical vest on and pull my hair into a bun at the back of my neck. I then strap on my belt and holster, snap my sidearm into its thigh holster, and hook my comm piece into my ear and around my neck. I open my gun case and look at my most trusted piece of equipment. She's like a friend. When I hold her, I know what my purpose in life is. I shoulder my rifle and put on my glasses and black ball cap. Because we are away from all the activity, I don't need to wear the helmet. Derek is geared out about the same as me, except he doesn't carry a rifle. He has a spotting scope and a machine gun strapped to his back. I watch as the entry teams get into position.
A new Team Two has started with us. It just so happened that two other guys on the unit could meet the marksman skills and they got moved up into the open positions. Yancy's murder is still unsolved, but I'm no longer a suspect. There is still another knife of mine out there, and someone was trying to set me up.
We head to the home the captain directed us to. When I get to it, I see some more team members waiting. They help boost me up to a low roof so I can climb up higher. I make sure to keep my riflescope protected from bumps and the sunlight doesn't reflect off it. I get into position with Derek next to me. The roof isn't very sloped and I'm able to lie on my belly.
The homes are older construction with shingled roofs. The day is cold with a little bit of a breeze; and I hope it doesn't start to rain. I slip a mag into my gun and chamber a round as Derek pulls out his data book and starts writing down all the distances and ratios I give him. I twist my ball cap backward so it's not in my way. I line up with the house and start checking each room before finally stopping on what appears to be a family room. Sure enough, he's there and holding the boy to his chest with a gun in his hand. I press the button to open the comm.
"I see him in the living room. He's holding the boy and has a nine millimeter loosely gripped, hanging down next to his leg. Do you still want me to check the house with infrared?"
"Yes, Sierra, I want to make sure the little boy is the only hostage. Also, what's your shot like?"
"I’ve got a clean head shot, but he'll drop the boy to the floor, so not a good idea. I could aim for the gun hand, although the little boy's leg is right there; if he moves, it could be worse. I've no chest shot."
"Copy that," he says as I click off my comm.
"Okay, Echo, infrared." I flip some switches on my scope and make the necessary adjustments to be able to see heat signatures within the structure. The secondary part of the scope slips into place. Again, I scope the whole house and finally the living room. I'm still telling Derek different measures and distances asI search. He's looking through his scope too and doing the same, confirming the measurements as he writes them into our data book.
I can make out the last vestiges of heat from the wife’s body on the floor of the room across from the husband, but the small heat signature in the corner stops me. I focus more and curse softly before flipping on the comm again. Derek looks where I am and curses too.
"Captain, we've got a situation. There’s a second hostage in what appears to be a crib in the corner of the room."
