by Laura Acton
Sinner,
This is a small token of my gratitude. I hope whoever she is she deserves you. You’re one-of-a-kind. Would love to have a drink with you … as only good old friends … and catch up at some point. Take Care and Best of Luck.
Your Friend, Clara
Tia answered a call and listened for a moment. She announced, “Alpha Team, critical call. Pipers Way Pharmaceuticals. A volatile situation is brewing between the Pro and Anti-smoking factions. The Lieutenant Governor is inside the building to give a speech. His security team is worried about him safely leaving the site and is requesting TRF assistance. Boss, patching through Ms. Jane, head of security.”
The team rushed to gear up as Nick began gathering details from the caller.
Room 420
46
December 22
En Route to Pipers Way Pharmaceuticals – 12:10 a.m.
Nick spoke with the head of security as Alpha Team sped with lights flashing and sirens blaring for the pharmaceutical company. “Ms. Jane, I’m Sergeant Nicholas Pastore. Can you provide me details of the situation?”
“Please call me Mary. Yes, details. Lieutenant Governor Blunt was touring our plant before his scheduled speech concerning the ban on smoking in cars when children are present and the medicinal use of cannabis. When the crowd assembled, all was peaceful, but as his speech progressed both sides of the smoking debate started getting violent. Masses of people converged outside, I don’t know where they all came from, and someone yelled they saw a gun.
“We whisked Mr. Blunt inside and into a special room for his protection. This is beyond our capacity to handle. I only have three men, and we don’t carry weapons. We need your help to get him out of here safely.”
Nick said, “How many people do you consider masses?”
Peering out the front window, Mary Jane, couldn’t believe her eyes. “No idea the actual number. Appears there are hundreds. They’re swarming and fighting. This is terrible. Never seen anything like this before.” When one of her men rushed into the room, she turned to him.
“Ma’am, they’re battering on the doors with bats. Won’t be long before someone smashes a window.” Shattering glass punctuated his words.
Mary’s eyes widened as she directed her man, “Have the employees lock themselves in. Announce it now.” The man raced off to the control room as she said, “Sergeant, they’ve broken into the building. Hurry.”
“Tia, request the riot squad.” Nick glanced at Jon. “We need a plan.”
“On it, Boss,” Tia said then made the necessary call.
As he drove, Jon decided to utilize Dan’s skills. “Dan, I need tactical options. Need you to review the blueprints.”
Pipers Way Pharmaceuticals – 12:15 a.m.
Arriving at the company, the team witnessed the disorderly conditions at the front entrance. The crowd was massive and combative—the uniformed officers currently on scene had their hands full. Alpha Team drove around to the delivery area in back. Using blueprints Loki acquired, augmented by the information Nick obtained from Mary, Dan determined the best option for the team would be to go through the back entrance to extract the Lt. Governor.
Ms. Jane met the fully-geared team at the rear door. “Here, these cards access the elevator and the fourth-floor rooms. Security is tightest on that level because of the materials stored there. We have Blunt locked in our most secure room. Please follow me.”
The entire team followed her into the waiting elevator. Bram, Dan, Loki, Lexa, Ray, and Jon all carried shields. With the present number outside, they needed the full team to ensure Blunt’s safety. After disembarking from the lift, the group strode down a long hallway. Most of the doors facing the hall were closed and required keycards to enter. Enormous metal storage cabinets bordered one side, and five-foot tall partitioned cubicles created a wall on the other. As they approached the safe room, a loud explosion occurred outside, causing the windows near the cubicles to rattle.
Nick directed, “Dan, Lexa, with me. Jon, take the rest and check out what we’re dealing with.”
Lexa, Nick, and Dan continued with Mary. Jon, Bram, Loki, and Ray returned downstairs to assess the current situation. It would be their responsibility to confirm the exit strategy would still work.
Pipers Way Pharmaceuticals – Room 420 – 12:25 a.m.
Dan and Lexa studied the room’s interior while Boss spoke to Mr. Blunt. They noted only one entrance, several cabinets, a table, and six chairs. They both went to the window and evaluated the state of affairs outside. Riot officers strove to gain the upper hand as splinter fractions fought with both the constables and each other. Over the headset, Jon reported things escalating, protestors with bats, pipes, and assorted weapons now controlled the first and second floors. The path to the back entrance was cut off.
Nick strode over to them. “You two stay here to protect Blunt and his security officers, Mr. Toke and Mr. Blue. I’m heading to the security room with Ms. Jane, will have Loki meet us there. He can use the perimeter cameras to determine an alternate path out.”
“Copy,” both snipers acknowledged.
Once Nick departed the room, he called Loki for the meet. As ordered, Dan locked the door and took up a position near it.
Lexa surveyed the chaos outside. “This is crazy. I can’t believe the violence that has erupted over whether someone should smoke or not around kids.”
“Sorry to ease-drop, but that isn’t what started things,” Lieutenant Governor Blunt said. “It is more about whether we should decriminalize cannabis. Some are very unhappy with my stance. I received several death threats because I support the decriminalization of small amounts.”
Lexa nodded.
Dan and Lexa listened as the rest of the team worked to find a way out, but circumstances escalated beyond their ability to rein in, and more crowd control officers had to be called in to contain the situation. They were told to sit tight until a safe path was secured.
Pipers Way Pharmaceuticals – Security Room – 12:45 p.m.
Loki shook his head. “Sorry, Boss, the cameras are all failing. Someone unleashed a virus. The entire system is crashing.”
Nick rubbed his face. They had no safe route to move Blunt out yet. A full-scale riot continued to roar inside and outside. The employees of the pharmaceutical company had gone into lockdown mode but the radicals on both sides of the issue still coursed through the building. His team guarded the most critical areas which held narcotics and other chemicals while dozens of patrol officers and the riot squad strove to regain order.
Loki focused on the boss. “Should I go help Jon or Dan?”
Nick thought a moment. Dan is supposed to be on restricted duty. I shouldn’t have let him come inside. If rioters gain access to that floor, Dan and Lexa might need backup. “Go to room four twenty.”
“Dan, Lexa, coming to you,” Loki said.
“Copy,” Dan answered.
Loki made his way through the throng of rioters on the sixth floor. Surreal so many are polarized by these two issues. Perhaps Jon is right. This is more a crime of opportunity. Jon posted himself, Bram, and Ray at critical locations when he discovered several people trying to steal drugs and lose themselves in the crowd to avoid capture.
Reaching the fourth floor, Loki cursed, “Damn! Boss, nearly a dozen malcontents breached the perimeter and are now racing down the hall with officers hot on their tails.”
Loki sprinted past the huge metal cabinets. Glad that Boss sent me to back up Dan and Lexa. Dan is doing a little better today, but he’s still moving slow, not quite one hundred percent. Skidding to a halt and checking around him to ensure the coast was clear, Loki pounded on the door. “Dan, I’m here. Open quickly.”
Pipers Way Pharmaceuticals – Room 420 – 12:55 p.m.
Slipping in, Loki slammed the door closed, locked it, and leaned his back on it, his eyes widening as he blew out a breath. “Madhouse out there. I’ve never seen the like. Worse than a horde of Vikings plundering a v
illage.”
They heard several loud bangs and sounds of metal crashing down in addition to yelling on the other side of the door.
Turning to Blunt, Lexa said, “Sir, we need you in the back corner now.”
Blunt and his security men Toke and Blue moved to the corner as instructed. Lexa joined them covering Blunt while Loki and Dan stayed nearer the door. Noises of fighting and agitators yelling over the police who shouted for them to desist filtered into their room.
Dan and Loki stood tense and ready to act as the first line of defense if necessary as the ruckus went on for well over fifteen minutes. Two loud blasts occurred in the hallway, and another one came from the room next door, but then the din ebbed away.
Lexa took a step forward, lowering her weapon. “Think the tide is turning in our favor.”
All three breathed a small sigh of relief. Loki advanced to the door and placed an ear against it. “Good guys winning.” He turned with a smile, grateful the unruly people were being escorted away by police. His face morphed into concern as his gaze landed on Dan, catching him wincing as he lowered the ballistic shield. “Hey, you should sit down for a bit.”
“I’m fine,” Dan insisted, not realizing his automatic response as he leaned the shield against his legs. Holding the heavy metal up with one hand for an extended period put strain on his pectoral muscles. He missed his lunchtime meds—they were in his locker at headquarters, and he was supposed to take them at noon with food. He would need to bear the pain for now—nothing he hadn’t done many times before.
Lexa shared a quick, concerned glance with Loki, both noting Dan used the word fine. She swiftly marched over to Dan, lifted his shield, and tugged on his arm. She gently pulled him towards a chair. “Sit.”
Giving her a disgruntled scowl, which she returned with a piercing gaze full of daggers, Dan acquiesced and lowered himself into the chair—secretly glad to be off his feet for a small break. It was then he realized his mistake. Crap, I said fine … no wonder Lexa glared at me.
Lieutenant Governor Blunt moved from the back corner and sat at the table as he scrutinized the three TRF officers. “Are you okay, constable?”
“I’m alright,” Dan claimed, desiring to appear capable in front of the man he was supposed to be protecting and attempting to backtrack with the team, to reduce their worry—he was only sore, something he could handle.
Lexa cocked her head, not fooled one iota. “You should be home resting.”
His eyes shot to hers, and he was about to deal out a retort, but his nose detected a faint odor. “Do you smell that?”
After inhaling deeply through her nose, Lexa shook her head. “No. What?”
Mr. Toke nodded. “Yeah, I do. Like something’s burning, smoky.”
They all started glancing around trying to locate the source of the odor recalling three explosions.
“They wouldn’t have left if a fire started,” Loki declared.
Mr. Blue pointed up. “There. It’s coming in through that vent.”
“Boss, we have smoke entering the room via a vent in the ceiling. Alarms aren’t going off though,” Lexa reported.
“Give me a moment to confer with the commander of the riot police to determine if we can send a team to escort Blunt out,” Nick responded.
Loki’s mind whirred. “No alarms. The virus probably knocked out the system. Poorly designed with no firewalls or fail-safe backups.”
Dan stared up at the billowing hazy vapor. “That isn’t normal smoke. Loki what’s in the room next to this one?”
Loki pulled out his phone with the schematics of the building. He laughed then peered at Lexa and Dan. “Um. It’s where they store cannabis.”
“You gotta be kidding me.” Lexa’s mouth dropped open in disbelief.
As he shook his head Loki’s grin grew. “Nope.”
“Crap!” Dan exclaimed as he began removing his vest.
“Dan, what are you doing?” Lexa eyed Dan.
“Gotta block the smoke. Using my shirt unless you have something better.”
A cloud formed at the ceiling and slowly dropped as the wispy vapor continued to fill the room at an increasing rate. As Dan shed his button-down shirt, Loki and the two security personnel moved the table underneath the vent. Dan climbed on the tabletop, and his face became wholly obscured by haze as he tried to shove his uniform shirt into the large, awkward-shaped vent. He held his breath for as long as he could before he switched to shallow breathing. Dan repeatedly attempted to wedge the cloth tight enough to prevent the fog from seeping in and in the process breathed in a lot of cannabis vapor.
Noting Dan needed assistance, Loki jumped up and began to give Dan a hand. He got a huge dose of smoke in his face as a section of Dan’s shirt fell. Unfortunately, Loki happened to be inhaling at the time. A single shirt proved to be ineffective given the size of the opening.
Too short to assist, Lexa observed Dan and Loki struggling in vain. “Boss, we’re unable to block the smoke adequately. Got an exit strategy yet?”
“We need another shirt. Dan, take off your t-shirt,” Loki suggested.
Dan glared at him. “No, dude! You remove yours.”
“Oh, yeah, duh!” Loki said with an animated smile.
Loki stripped off his vest as Nick said, “Over three dozen rioters armed with bats and knives are still roaming the building. Charlie Team is on their way and will be here in fifteen minutes. Can you hold that long?”
Lexa shook her head as she stared up at the guys. “Boss, I’m afraid we’ll all be under the influence shortly.”
Dan laughed as Loki stuffed the second shirt into the hole and ended up knocking out Dan’s again. “Too late, Lexie.”
“Buddy, you’re flyin’ high!” Loki gaped at Dan with bloodshot eyes as he dropped his shirt. He started laughing as he bent down to retrieve it and missed. Loki straightened up leaving the black material lying where it fell and grinned. “So am I.” He danced a little jig on the tabletop.
“Uh huh.” Dan grabbed Loki before he fell off the edge and teetered himself as he snickered.
Lexa rolled her eyes at the two of them. “Get down! Mr. Toke, Mr. Blue can you try to wedge the shirts in?”
Continuing to laugh, Dan and Loki stumbled clumsily off the table ending up on their butts before regaining their feet.
Lieutenant Governor Blunt gawked at the two officers who were highly affected by the marijuana smoke. “Must be some high-quality cannabis.” He watched as his security detail fumbled around attempting to stuff the cloth in—they were also unsuccessful.
Lexa tried to breathe through her sleeve to lessen the effect as she turned to her teammates. “Surrender your weapons to me. Now.”
Understanding protocol, being armed in an altered state was grounds for dismissal and an all-around bad idea, Dan plastered on a lopsided grin as he unhooked the MP5 from his discarded vest. As he handed it over, Dan asked, “What’s ya gonna give me in return? A kissy?”
“Sidearm, now!” Lexa glared at him praying he wouldn’t say something he shouldn’t. She fought to hide her smile as she began to feel buzzed.
Loki handed over his MP5 and started to unholster his weapon. “I’m hungry. Got any power bars?”
“Or cookies?” Dan nudged Loki’s arm.
“Yeah, cookies!” Loki’s hopeful chestnut brown eyes turned to Lexa.
Lexa rolled her eyes and laughed as she ensured the safeties were on the weapons as they handed them over. Christ! This is a new one.
Laughing, Mr. Toke and Mr. Blue continued trying to stuff the uniforms in, but when they fell out for the fifth time, the men gave up and sat down on the table with glazed expressions. “This is some potent weed,” Blue said.
“Boss,” Lexa called out, then giggled. “Um, we … um …”
Dan finished for her, “We need back up. We’re so wasted.” He dissolved into laughter and was joined by Loki, Lexa, Toke, Blue, and Blunt.
Pipers Way Pharmaceuticals – Room 420 – 1:4
0 p.m.
Anxious to reach their teammates, after fifteen minutes turned into a long thirty minutes to secure the area, Jon, Nick, Bram, and Ray raced out of the stairwell. They all wore respirators and were followed by a fire crew who went straight to room four nineteen to deal with the smoldering cannabis which had ignited by a spark from a flashbang the riot squad used.
Overturned metal file cabinets blocked the path to the secure room. Jon, Ray, and Bram used their strength to lift and move the heavy obstructions, annoyed and concerned by the further delay. Once cleared Bram breached the locked security door with the ram when no one responded to the hail to unlock the door. Smoke billowed out.
As they rushed in, they found Dan, Lexa, and Loki sitting cross-legged on the floor giggling with their headsets discarded in a pile in front of Loki. They caught the tail end of Loki’s comment about reindeer flight dynamics. The Lieutenant Governor was seated in a chair with a mischievous smile as he took pictures of Blue and Toke who were playing an uncoordinated game of rock, paper, scissors. All six were high as kites.
Nick noted Dan, Loki, and Lexa had all disarmed. Moving directly to Lexa, he crouched to eye level with her. “Lexa, where are your weapons?”
“Oh, hey, Bossy. Nice of you to finally show up.” Lexa’s reddened, glazed-over eyes blinked lazily. “Loki thinks reindeer fly. He’s full of crap.”
Loki’s bloodshot eyes rounded. “They do fly!” He began rattling off technical nonsense on reindeer aerodynamics as Ray knelt next to him.
Dan tried getting up and stumbled.
“Whoa, Dano. Take it slow.” Jon grabbed Dan’s arm, steadying him.
“Gots presents for you,” Dan stated in a matter of fact tone which was in direct contrast to the bright grin on his face. Dan started towards the other side of the room. “Promise it isn’t cats. You don’t like fluffy kitties, do you?”
“Not particularly.” Jon held onto Dan as he swayed. He noted Charlie Team entering and heading for Blunt and his security men.