OUTCAST: Trust, Friendship, And Injustice (Beauty 0f Life Book 9)
Page 74
Eagerly anticipating fun on the slopes, they never expect
their holiday to become the ski trip from hell.
Who will go the extra mile to protect others
during the storm of the century?
September 23
Rooftop Across from Whitehall Financial – 1:40 p.m.
Eyes locked on his scope, haze obscuring his vision, Constable Dan Broderick held his breath as unwanted memories crashed in, whiting out the world around him. Ungodly screams so familiar, yet different. Lungs burning from lack of oxygen, his body forced him to take a ragged breath. With air, reality slammed back in on Dan as did voices hollering commands, sirens, and the crackle of the fiery monster across the street.
Another breath in and out, his sight took in the blaze engulfing the Whitehall building. Lying on his stomach, shoulder butted against the stock of his sniper rifle, Dan lowered his head, resting his forehead on his arm as tears welled. He needed a moment to pull himself together and affix his post-shoot mask before he packed up his Remi and headed down to the chaos below.
He registered none of his team called for status, a factor which scared the hell out of him. They all must be as screwed up by the terrible ending of this call as he. NRB would have a field day. Nothing went as expected … everything went to hell in a heartbeat.
After several more breaths, Dan rose to his knees and began to pack up. The billowing white steam created as the fire crew put out the flames blew in his direction on the breeze of the first day of autumn. The dampness which combined with the colder than normal September day caused Dan to shiver … or so he would claim the tremoring of his body to be weather-related and not due memories of another horrifying day in September three years ago.
Standing, Dan slung his Remi bag over his shoulder and peered down at the scene, wishing he could whiteout both incidents from his memory. But he had been at this long enough to know it would never happen. He must work hard to shove this and the older event into the lockbox in his mind.
Outside Whitehall Financial – 1:45 p.m.
Sergeant Nicholas Pasture gave up trying to quell the need to rub his face as he stared at the burning financial building. The nervous habit demanded an outlet as he endeavored to comprehend how things went so wrong, so fast. After scrubbing his cheeks several times, he raked his fingers through his dark brown hair, which in the past two years alone gained many white hairs. This job and all it entailed would prematurely turn his hair white.
As Inspector Pope approached, Nick settled his cap on his head and prepared to hand over the scene, before joining the rest of his team for what would be an intense debriefing once Dan, Jon, and Lexa returned from their Nonpartisan Review Board interviews. In all likelihood, the NRB would want to speak to every team member. With the loss of life, both hostages and subjects, there would be a rigorous investigation of how they handled this call.
“Sergeant Pasture,” Roman Pope said as he came to a stop.
“Pope,” Nick responded, not in the mood to deal with the pompous inspector. He still had not forgiven Pope his supercilious and insensitive remarks about Ray after the slime-ball, ex-cop Bozonnet accused his officer of brutality.
Eyeing the Tactical Response Force sergeant, Pope straightened to his full height and a badly disguised sneer formed. “Told you once before, and I’m telling you again, if I find any of your team crossed the line, I will pursue charges with vigor. Being TRF doesn’t give you special privileges. Commander Gambrill won’t be able to coddle and shield his pet team if my men uncover even the slightest break in proper protocol. The citizenry will demand justice for today’s result.”
Although wanting to tell the arrogant son of a bitch to go pound dirt, Nick remained professional. It would be the best way to protect his team. In the background he noted Jon, Lexa, and Dan getting into NRB sedans. “Inspector, the scene is yours. Three of my team are with NRB. The transcript will be available for you at TRF headquarters within the hour.”
Pope disliked Pasture and believed TRF constables were nothing but glory hogs who swooped in at the last moment after real officers like him and other detectives did the hard work … and they tended to kill too many citizens by his accounting. “Make your team available … my detectives will need to interview each of you even if NRB doesn’t.”
After giving a curt nod, Nick pivoted and strode towards Alpha Team’s vehicles where Bram, Ray, and Loki stood waiting to return to headquarters. All three appeared as devastated by the ending as him. Wish I could turn back time and changes the outcome of today. He blew out a breath. Stop … no shoulds, woulds, or coulds, they will eat you alive if you let them.
About the Author
Laura Acton, author of the Beauty of Life series, has a passion for writing stories which pull the reader into a complex world of courageous men and women riding a roller coaster of emotions and danger, highlighting the nature of relationships and bonds developed in adversity.
If you like action, whump, angst, romance, details, twists, turns, and connections, Laura’s novels are chocked full of them.
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For a complete listing of Laura’s novels, visit amazon.com/author/lauraacton