Chapter Eighteen
“Okay, listen up,” the officer in charge of the attempt to prevent the latest robbery spoke to the men assigned to the task. “Our source has been very accurate so far so, hopefully he’s right about this one. We need to wait until we actually see something before we move. Please keep in mind how trigger-happy this group is. I’m sure I don’t need to remind you to wear your vests. I’d like to do this tonight without any bloodshed but we all know they won’t hesitate to shoot. If you must return fire, I urge you to use caution. Do not shoot if there is any chance of missing. I don’t want any innocent victims this time. I’d rather have you back off and let them go than have them clip some poor shmuck out walking his dog again. If we don’t get them this time, we will next time. They’re obviously not going anywhere but neither are we. It’s only a matter of time so please, safety first. We need to keep the public with us on this. If they feel that we are doing all we can to protect them while we hammer away at these guys they might be more willing to provide information in the future. Remember, even though this group is responsible for plenty of armed robberies, muggings and drugs, if we shoot one, all the community sees is that we killed another unfortunate kid who ended up on the streets. Any questions? Good, let’s go.”
Shane had a bad feeling. Something was wrong. The target was different from the ones they had gone for in the past. Tonight, the Kid insisted that they were going to rob an insignificant bicycle shop. It was not a place where they were likely to get much. Shane hoped he was wrong but feared that this one was personal. They could be using the robbery as an excuse to go after the shop owner. He had checked the records for the past several months and hadn’t found any trouble reported at that location. Sometimes they had calls from business owners who wanted the police to help them chase the gang away from their shops but there hadn’t been a single complaint in this instance.
Shane waited in the position he was assigned. So far, it had been quiet in the area. He was in the back though. They could easily approach from the other direction without him seeing a thing. He decided that was the case when he heard the first shouts. Wishing he knew what was going on, he resisted the urge to leave the alley. He had to stay there in case any of them tried to escape in his direction. He heard footsteps running toward him and drew his gun. Stepping away from the doorway he had crouched in, he came face to face with the Kid.
“Drop your weapon,” Shane called, leveling his gun as he knew he had to but hating the need for it. He had noticed instantly that the Kid had a gun of his own this time.
The Kid froze, his gun pointed at Shane. They seemed suspended in time as they stared at each other. “Shit, man, why are you back here?” The Kid glared at him.
“Drop it, Kid,” Shane repeated, dreading the obvious. Tonight’s robbery must have been planned for the Kid’s initiation. Had he already shot the shop owner?
“Damn, I wish you weren’t here. Don’t you get it? They figured out that you’re always around. I’m supposed to take you out.”
“Don’t do it, Kid. Drop the gun and we’ll work something out. I can help you.”
“Can you? Did you mean it when you said you’d get me out of this? If you did, I’m ready. No way can I shoot you, or anybody else. But they’ll kill me if I screw up.” The Kid was shaking and Shane could see the tears in his eyes. Suddenly he looked very young and hopeless.
“I meant every word of it. Give me the gun and I’ll take you away from this.” Before he could continue, Shane saw a movement on the other side of the alley. There was an older gang member there, pointing a gun at them. As if in slow motion, Shane heard the shots. He felt the pain in his leg and caught the Kid when he crumpled in front of him. Ignoring his wound, he quickly discovered that the Kid had been hit twice in the back.
“Son of a bitch, that hurt.” The Kid was still with him.
“Hang on, Kid. Someone will be here to help soon,” Shane reassured him. “Don’t move.”
“Did they get you too? Aw fuck, I’m sorry, man. It’s all my fault. I should have walked before. Alyssa’s gonna be pissed if you die because of me.”
“Neither one of us is going to die. She’ll be mad enough that we got shot but she’d never forgive either of us after we both promised to stay alive. It’s not your fault. You didn’t do this so shut up about that.”
“If I don’t die, will you really take me away from here? Are you really coming with me?”
“Hell, yes. I gave you my word and I will keep it.” Not really thinking about what he was doing, Shane pulled out his phone. “Trust me, Kid. Jesse, it’s Shane. I need help.” He quickly told Jesse what had occurred. “Holy shit!” he exclaimed after hearing Jesse’s response. “Okay, I’ll see you there.”
“Who was that?” The Kid was suspicious.
“A friend. I promise everything is going to be fine. How you doing? My leg hurts like a son of a bitch!”
“Me too. You’re not gonna let them get me?”
“No way. What’s your name?”
“Flynn. Flynn Roberts. You can’t send me back, now that you know. I won’t stay…”
“Calm down, Flynn. You’re not going anywhere without me. You just have to trust me.” He continued to hold onto the boy as he made another call. “Dad, I need your help.” Again, Shane briefly explained the situation, concluding by asking his parents to come to the hospital. He knew they would anyway but he asked them to come for the Kid. “Thanks, Dad. Drive slowly. I’m fine, really.”
“What the hell was that about?” The Kid tried to squirm away from him.
“My parents. I called them because I know they’ll help keep you safe while I tie up loose ends here. When I do, we’ll figure out where we go next,” Shane wondered what was taking the ambulance so long.
“No way. Forget it!” Flynn looked panicked.
“Trust me, Flynn. Not all people are like your family. Campini told me what you said about yours and mine is not like that. They’re like me. I promise it will be okay. I would trust them with her life.”
Shane knew he had said the right thing when Flynn slumped against him. “Okay. You’d better be straight with me or I’m outa there.”
“Deal,” Shane was relieved when he saw the paramedics. “Over here. Two victims. One, aged?”
“Eleven,” Flynn supplied.
Shane frowned. He was even younger than he thought. “Aged eleven, two bullet wounds in the lower back, one exit wound on the right side. Victim two is me. Bullet wound in the left thigh. I think it hit bone.”
* * * * *
Three hours later, Shane was in a room, fighting the effects of the anesthesia. When he woke up in the recovery room all they would tell him was that Flynn was still in surgery. He hated not knowing more. Was Flynn going to make it? Had his parents arrived? What was Jesse doing?
“McKade,” his captain said as he came through the door.
“Hey, Captain. How’s the Kid?”
“In surgery. Mind explaining what happened? And why the Feds are here.”
“Feds?”
“Yes. They showed up an hour ago and took custody of the Kid. Any idea why?”
“Damn! The Kid means a lot to me. I know, don’t say it. I’m well aware that it’s wrong to get personally involved with an informant. But he’s different, special. I’ve been encouraging him to walk away from the gang. I promised that I would keep him safe if he asked me for help.”
“Christ, McKade, what were you thinking? Is this that photographer’s influence?”
“It started out that way. He called me because of her at first. But as we talked, we got to know each other. He became more than an informant. We’re connected somehow and I have to help him.”
“But the Feds? How can you justify sticking him in the witness protection program? He should be sent home. I’m sure he has a home somewhere.”
“Not a suitable one. And he’s not going in the program, he’s staying with me.”
“Are you out of you
r fucking mind? You can’t just yank a kid out of a gang and take him home with you.”
“But I have to. I promised.”
“Have you given any thought whatsoever about how this is going to affect your job?”
“Yes. You’ll be getting my resignation as soon as I’m out of here.”
“What the hell are you saying? McKade, think about this. You can’t throw away your whole life for some kid. Especially not one like that.”
“I’m not throwing away anything. I’m making some changes. You know how frustrated I’ve been lately. I’ve been ready to resign for months. I don’t belong here anymore. And that kid really is different.”
“You can’t do this! I won’t let you.”
“I’m sorry, Captain, but I don’t have any other choice. I swore we’d get out of the city and we’re going to.”
“I think you’re making a mistake, a huge mistake. Give it some more thought, McKade. Lots of serious thought. For now, I’m going to forget that we even had this conversation. We’ll talk again later. Take the next few weeks while you recover and reconsider this. I’ll arrange a transfer for you. You just need to redirect your focus. You’re one of the good ones and I don’t want to lose you.”
Shane agreed even though he knew he wouldn’t change his mind. His life as a city police detective was over. He was now responsible for an eleven-year-old former gang member from a rotten home. And he had no idea what they were going to do next but they’d figure it out together.
* * * * *
“Hi honey,” Rose McKade greeted her son as soon as they were permitted to see him.
“Hey Mom, Dad. Thanks for coming.”
“As if we wouldn’t!” His mother let her worry out as anger and was about to yell at him.
“Rose, don’t pick on the boy now,” Danny McKade cut her off. “He didn’t jump in front of that bullet just to vex you. They’ve already assured us that he is going to be as good as new in no time.”
“With pins in his leg!” she interrupted.
“Yes, with pins in his leg but as good as new anyway. Can I suggest you postpone your lecture for now? I think we have more important things to discuss.”
“Fine,” she capitulated. “If you’re sure you’re all right?”
“I’ll be fine, Mom. If it hadn’t been for Flynn I would have told you not to come.”
“Not now, son,” his father warned. “Tell us about Flynn.”
Shane told them everything he could, starting with Alyssa’s photographic involvement, ending with the conversation they had while they waited in the alley.
“Shane, not that I doubt you but I need to ask this anyway, as a mother who wants to protect her son from getting hurt. Are you positive you should do this? How do you know he won’t take what he can get from you and disappear?”
“I just know, Mom. He’s not going to do that. He just needs a chance, one that I can give him. I have to do this. It’s just right.”
“All right, Shane. That’s good enough for us,” Danny replied. “We were with Brett in the hall. He said Jesse will be here as soon as he has everything arranged.”
“Did he say anything about Flynn? The nurse could only tell me that he was still in surgery.”
“That’s what Brett said too. We’ll be staying with him if we need to stay in the city. I also called Kiley.”
“Mom, why? I’ll be fine.”
“Because your brother would never forgive us if we didn’t and you know it. Kiley isn’t going to interrupt his show but I’m sure they’ll be here in the morning.”
“Hi, can we come in?” Brett and Jesse paused in the doorway.
“Please do.” Danny waved them in.
“How’s Flynn?” Shane asked.
“Officially,” Jesse stated, “he didn’t make it through surgery. Unofficially, he just went into recovery. The doctor told us that he was extremely lucky and should have a complete recovery.”
“They’re going to say he’s dead?” Shane knew they had to but wished there were some other way.
“It’s the only way,” Jesse replied. “If we didn’t, they’d come after him.”
“When can you get him out of here?”
“Possibly as early as Thursday, if all goes well. He’ll be transferred to the hospital near your home,” he spoke to Rose and Danny. “After that, it depends on how it goes. Shane, for the last time, is this what you want? I’m sorry but I have to be certain that you’re not going to change your mind in a month. If you take him on, you don’t get the option of walking away later.”
“I understand, Jesse. Yes, I want this. I can’t desert him now that I know him. I know we’ll have problems, probably some big ones but he’s worth it. I don’t know why I’m so certain but I am.”
“Okay, I’ll take care of it. Someone will be in contact with his father but, from what you said, I don’t think you’ll get any resistance.”
“Shane, what if he wants his son back?” Rose asked gently, knowing they were all thinking that.
“I’ll fight for him if Flynn wants me to. If he honestly wants to go to his dad then I’ll step aside but I believe what he told me. Wait until you meet him, Mom. You’ll understand. He’s quite a kid.”
“He must be for you to change your whole life for him. I’ll let you know what the father says as soon as I hear anything. So, how are you?”
“Fine for now. I’m sure it’s going to be throbbing soon enough but I’ll live.”
“You damn well better,” Brett exclaimed, causing them all to laugh.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easily, Brett.”
“Honey, I’m sure you’re tired. Why don’t you rest until Flynn wakes up?”
“Can you get me in to see him, Jesse? I’d like to introduce him to Mom and Dad and let him know that I’m still here.”
“I’ll see what I can do. I’m sure you have an hour at least. Take your mom’s advice. I’ll be back.” Jesse left to find Shane’s doctor.
“We’ll be just outside, son. Have the nurse get us if you need anything.” His father tugged on his wife’s hand after she hugged her son.
“Brett, can I have a sec?” Shane stopped him from leaving. “About Campini.”
“I was wondering about that. Have you told her any of what you feel?”
“Not most of it. She knows I’ve been trying to get him out of there and that I promised to find a way to keep him safe.”
“But nothing about you being the one to personally look after him, quitting your job and moving him away from here?”
“Not yet. I didn’t exactly expect this to happen today, not like this. I thought, when the time came, I’d be able to take him to Mom and Dad’s and be there while he got comfortable. Then, I planned on giving my notice and leaving under better circumstances. My captain has already been here and knows I’m out, even though he wasn’t ready to accept it. He’ll be the only one who knows though. I think I should wait to tell Campini until she’s home.”
“How’s she going to take this?”
“Honestly, I have no idea. I don’t even know what I feel about her, let alone how she feels about me. I’m kind of clueless here.”
“You better figure out what you want fast. She’s not going to be gone all that long.” Brett wished the two of them would stop fighting the inevitable. They were as good together as Jordan and Kiley were. Too bad they were both too stubborn to see it.
“I know and thanks for listening.”
“Anytime, Shane. I like being the only one other than Jesse who knows about you two.”
“Jordan knows.”
“Yeah but he hasn’t spent any time with you as a couple. Before you protest, save your breath. You and Alyssa are a couple, whether either of you acknowledges it or not. You just need to figure out what kind of couple you want to be. I gotta tell you, Shane, I’ll be highly disappointed if you two blow this. I know you don’t want to hear it but you’re perfect for each other. Now get some rest. You have a kid
to take care of now.”
Shane tried to doze after Brett left him alone but his mind was too active. What the hell was he going to do now? He was responsible for Flynn. He wanted Alyssa and he was beginning to feel that he wanted her as a permanent part of his life. What was she going to say when she discovered what he’d done? Maybe he’d be surprised and she’d offer to help with Flynn. Ha! Fat chance of that happening. It was more likely that she’d be furious at him for not telling her right away and that would be the last time he ever saw her. At least he had a few weeks to decide what to say.
Chapter Nineteen
Alyssa told herself that she could handle this. Ever since Brett had called and told her that Shane had been shot she had been fighting the panic that threatened to overwhelm her. She’d never forgive him if he died. When Brett offered to fly her home to see him, she accepted instantly. Now that she was about to land, she was almost frantic. What if Brett had bad news when he met her at the airport? Damn him for upsetting her like this! McKade probably got shot just to torture her. Well if he had, it was working. She had never been more frightened in her life.
“He’s okay, Alyssa,” Brett told her before he said hello. “He’s got some pins in the bone in his thigh but he’s going to be fine. I’m sorry that I worried you for nothing but you asked me to call you if something happened to him.”
“He’s really okay?” Alyssa wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or cry or find Shane and give him a piece of her mind. He had promised to be careful, damn it!
“Honest, he’s fine.”
“Did you tell him you called me?”
“No, you said not to. Don’t you want to see him? I know we made your return flight for the morning but I thought you’d go to the hospital for a few hours anyway. I could still get you a later flight, by the way.”
“Thanks, Brett. I’m sorry I snapped at you. Yes, I want to see him. I feel a little foolish, rushing home like this now that you say it’s not that bad.”
“Why? You care about him. It’s only natural that you’d want to see for yourself that he’s all right. He did get shot, remember? I didn’t think it would make a difference that it’s not serious. You’re pale and you’re shaking so why don’t you just admit it. You were afraid of losing him as soon as I told you.”
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