SWAT: Contemporary Cop Romance

by Lily Harlem

  She froze and turned my way. Eyes wide. Mouth gaping. In her left hand was a button, the red wire leading up the sleeve of her jacket.

  “Get out of here,” Balko yelled, sweeping his free arm to the right. “Everyone out of here. Bomb!”

  Instantly screams rang in my ears. The stampede created a vibration in the ground then juddered up my legs. I kept my gun steady.

  God knows how much she’s packing.

  For several seconds we stood frozen, waiting for peaceful protestors to get away. Every metre counted in this kind of situation.

  “You need to back up.” It was the chief’s voice in my earpiece.

  “Didn’t know you were here, sir.”

  “Gotta keep an eye on my men…and women.” He paused. “Now retreat. We have no idea what the reach of that explosive is.”

  “In a moment, sir, let me…”

  The woman had terror in her eyes and her hand was shaking.

  “Officer Sweeny. Now.”

  I ignored him. “What’s your name?” I called.

  “Get away from me,” she shouted, spittle joining the words.

  “We’re nowhere near you and we’re not coming closer, ma’am.”

  She pointed at Balko. “Get him away from me or this goes up.” She undid the top button on her jacket and it fell open.

  “Sme tu na hovno,” Balko muttered.

  “Which means?”

  “We’re really in the shit.”

  I huffed. “Yep. You could say that.”

  “I just did.”

  “I mean it, get him away.” The woman shook her hand, the one holding the detonator.

  “Retreat, Balko.”

  “And leave you?”

  “Your manliness is clearly freaking her out.”

  “Damn it.” He took a step back. I knew it was against his instincts and was impressed that he’d obeyed my order.

  “I only want to talk,” I called. “Nothing else.”

  “I need to get in there.” She nodded at the courthouse.

  “Why?”

  “Justice has to be served.”

  “It will be. That’s what this place is for, to bring justice to people who have committed crimes.”

  “Walter Riley has more than committed crimes. He’s abused, raped and degraded women whilst in a position of power and trust.”

  “I agree, that does seem to be the case.” I held up my free hand. “I’m just going to take off my helmet, okay?”

  “Why?”

  “I’m hot.”

  “Okay.” She shuffled from one foot to the other and looked at the empty pathway to the courthouse.

  “Look at me,” I said, removing my helmet. My hair was flattened to my head, my brow damp. “Do you recognise me?”

  She frowned. “No.”

  “Were you here the other day? When the protestors stormed the lobby?”

  She nodded. “Yes, but so what?”

  “I was here too.”

  “I’m going in there, to blow up that bastard and the cunt attorneys who are defending him.”

  “And kill yourself in the process?”

  “If that’s what it takes.”

  “How about negotiation, allowing justice to take its course, using your voice instead of violence.”

  “My voice isn’t heard. I’m a woman, or hadn’t you noticed?”

  “Of course, and I’m a woman too.” I paused. “Do you think I’m not furious at what Walter Riley has done?”

  She shrugged.

  I winced as the explosives jostled. “Keep still.”

  “Why?”

  “Because…you don’t want to go up.”

  “I’m prepared to die.”

  “I’m not prepared for you to die…tell me your name.”

  She paused, then, “Julie.”

  “Julie, I’m Freya. And if you saw the news the other day you would have seen me in there.” I nodded at the courthouse. “Promising that I would do everything in my power to see Walter Riley get his just dues.”

  “That’s okay for you to say.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Look at you. You’re a SWAT officer.”

  “Only because I worked hard to get here. What do you do?”

  “I work at the women’s refuge.”

  “Jeez, you must see some sights.”

  “Yes, and all delivered by men.”

  Damn, she really hates men.

  “You got a dad?” I asked.

  “Yeah, so?”

  “Brothers?”

  “Two.”

  “They good guys?”

  “Yeah, I’d say so.”

  “So you don’t hate all men.”

  She glanced down at the explosives.

  “What are your dad and brothers going to say when they see you on the TV like this? Wired up like a terrorist—“

  “I’m not a terrorist.”

  “Hate to say it, Julie, but it looks like it and those guys up there…” I nodded at a circling helicopter, “are going to view it like that if you take one step closer to the courthouse. One step closer means with that amount of dynamite the blast will infiltrate the building.” I paused. “What if a shard of glass kills the judge?”

  “If he was going to let Riley off…good.”

  “But what if he wasn’t going to let him walk? What if he was going to send him down?”

  Uncertainty bloomed in her eyes. She was already pale but whitened a little more.

  I glanced over my shoulder at Balko. He was only ten steps behind me, weapon poised, sun glinting off his shades.

  I was glad he had my back.

  But I didn’t want him to shoot Julie.

  “You know what I think,” I said.

  “What?” Her shaking had picked up, the hand holding the detonator jiggling in the air.

  “I think you’ve made your point. I think the entire state, no make that entire country, knows how angry you are. How angry all these women are, myself included. I think it’s time to call in the bomb squad and get that off you.”

  “No, no. I’ll press it. Don’t let them…” Tears were rolling down her face as she raised her hand higher.

  “You really want your father and brothers to watch you die on live TV?” I took a step closer and held out my hand. “That will break their hearts.”

  “I can’t…be responsible…for their…hearts.”

  “But you are, don’t you see? They love you and with love comes great responsibility.” I took another step.

  “Freya,” Balko said. “No more.”

  I ignored him. I took another pace. There were only ten feet between us now.

  “Back the fuck up, Sweeny,” the chief said in my ear.

  “You don’t want to die, Julie, neither do I.”

  She was quiet apart from a hiccupping sob.

  “And there’s a simple solution—we get the good guys in to take this off you.”

  “I could just run, in there.” She nodded at the entrance. “It would only take me a few seconds, and then I could take them all out.”

  “You really think this big fella standing behind me won’t do his job and take you out?”

  She glanced at Balko.

  “He’s a good guy,” I said, “one of the best, and a damn good shot.”

  “How can he be a good guy if he’s going to shoot a woman?”

  “A woman wearing an explosive vest about to commit mass murder, come on, you can see how he’d get in shit with his boss if he didn’t.”

  “I bet his boss is a bastard. A man who thinks he can do what he wants.”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I’m his boss, and I’m afraid I’d have to give him permission to shoot.” I paused, took a slow step forward. I was getting close now, and switching my attention between the detonator and her face. “Julie, let’s end this. No one needs to die today.”

  “But I—”

  “There’s no buts. There’ll be a bit of drama. What the hell were you
thinking, but you haven’t hurt anyone and if you give it up, let us help you then you can carry on working at the refuge. Those women need you, right?”

  That all seemed to make her think.

  “Be fucking careful,” the chief said through my earpiece. “She’s a head case.”

  I bit on my bottom lip. Talk about stating the obvious. “Let me hold the detonator while I call in the bomb squad.”

  She didn’t say no, which I took as a good sign, but I was worried about the amount of tremor in her hand.

  I reached for it. “Can I?”

  A thick sob bubbled up from her throat.

  “All you’ve got to do is…” I was right beside her now. It was within reach, but fuck, I was so in the blast zone it was unreal.

  “I’m going to take it now,” I said. “And this can be over. Your father and brothers won’t see any harm come to you and you will still have made your point.” I held my breath and reached for the detonator.

  As soon as our skin connected she released it.

  My heart leapt and my stomach lurched. Luckily my fingers seemed to work on their own and hold it up, steady, the small red button on the top clear of being pressed.

  “Send them in,” the chief yelled.

  In my peripheral vision Balko sprang into action. He was at my side in an instant.

  “Keep still, Julie,” I said, maintaining eye contact. “Keep real still while we get you fixed up.”

  “What the hell is this?” Balko stared at the vest.

  Julie sobbed again.

  “It’s okay.” Balko reached for her free hand and gave it a squeeze. “We’ve got guys who will have this off in the shake of an ear.”

  “Leg,” I said. “Shake of a leg.”

  He shrugged. “Same thing.”

  And then we were surrounded by officers from the bomb squad, dressed in protective gear from head to toe.

  “I’ll take that, ma’am,” one of them said, reaching for the detonator.

  “Thanks.”

  He took it from me and I was relieved to let it go.

  “Julie,” I said. “You’re going to be fine, okay.”

  She looked at the courthouse, hate still in her eyes.

  “Never think you failed today,” I said. “Today you lived, living is never failure.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Balko and I walked up to the coms trailer. If I’d been hot before, now I was on fire, the adrenaline pumping through my system seeming to heat my blood to lava.

  “You two nearly gave me a heart attack,” the chief shouted, stomping down the steps and pointing at us. “Why’d you get so damn close?” He tapped his ear. “This not working, Sweeny?”

  “Yes, sir, it’s working.” I halted and set my arms straight at my sides, ready for a dressing down.

  “Goddamn.” The chief stamped his foot on the ground, something I’d never seen him do before.

  I looked at Balko.

  He glanced at me.

  What is going on?

  “I should have you hauled over the coals for this,” the chief said. “Pulled up for disobeying orders, but I can’t.”

  “You can’t?” I asked, confusion swimming in my brain which was already a myriad of thoughts and emotions.

  “No, because you damn well saw it through.” He pointed at the bomb squad who were carefully lifting the jacket from Julie.

  The moment it was free of her shoulders she was handcuffed, but not roughly I was pleased to note.

  “Go gentle on her,” I called.

  “Don’t go soft on me,” the chief said. “Because that I will have you over the coals for.”

  “Women are sick of being victims, that’s all she was trying to say.”

  “With a vest of nitro.”

  “I agree, not the best plan.”

  He huffed and pointed up the road. “Get out of here, both of you. Out of my sight. I don’t want you back on duty for a couple of hours. Go get something to eat and cool the hell off.”

  “Yes, sir,” Balko said.

  He hadn’t needed telling twice and set off at a fast walk.

  “Thanks, chief,” I said. I rushed after Balko. “Where you going?”

  “To my rental, it’s the next block.” He turned to me but didn’t pause. “You wanna join me?”

  “You got food and aircon?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Balko’s apartment was a penthouse, open plan and decorated in gray, black and white, exactly what I would have predicted had I thought about it before I’d stepped inside.

  But I was hardly thinking. I was so damn hot I reckoned I could fry an egg on my butt. I was parched too, I needed a drink.

  He set down his weapon, then shrugged off his vest, dropping it on a low, black leather chair. A streak of sweat down the column of his back darkened his T-shirt.

  I removed my vest—glad to be rid of the weight even though I was very used to it.

  He walked to a sleek chrome refrigerator and pulled out a couple of cans of cola. “Here.” He threw one my way.

  I caught it. “Thanks.” I popped it open and drank long and deep, the cool, sweet liquid dampening the fire in my gullet. “That’s good, thanks.”

  “No problem.”

  “You have a shower here, right?” I asked.

  “Sure, through there.”

  “Do you mind?”

  “Have at it, there’s towels on the shelf.”

  I bent and removed my boots—even my socks were soaked—then walked over the wooden floor to the door he’d indicated.

  The bathroom was large with a huge window covered with a black blind, a roll-top bath, walk-in shower and separate room housing the toilet. A long black granite worktop held two sinks and a meagre amount of toiletries. It seemed Balko wasn’t one for preening, but I could have also guessed that if I’d taken the time to think about it.

  I stripped off, kicking my clothes into the corner. I’d have to put them on again soon, but perhaps I could at least get my T-shirt rinsed out and dried before I had to do that.

  I flicked on the faucet and dragged my hair from its low ponytail.

  I set the water to cool and when I stepped in, holding my face to the stream, I let out a sigh of relief. As I stood there, letting my skin chill, I slowed the thoughts rushing through my mind—Julie’s tear-stained face, the detonator in her hand then in mine, the horrific sight of deadly dynamite strapped to someone’s body.

  I blew out a breath, water droplets spraying from my mouth, and turned. A bottle of shampoo sat on a small wire shelf so I helped myself to some and lathered my hair. Balko’s hair was so short I wondered why he even had it. A bottle must last him a year.

  As the bubbles rinsed away I felt normality returning. Not just in my body, but in my mind. I was good at parking up the job. I had to be, otherwise I’d go mad. And it wasn’t as though I didn’t have enough experience.

  And the chief knew that, he knew a couple of hours, some food and a chance to cool down and I’d be back on the job with a rock-steady hand.

  Eventually, I forced myself out of the shower, knowing Balko would want one too.

  I helped myself to two large grey towels, wrapped one around my hair turban-style and the other around my body.

  Knock. Knock.

  “You finished?” Balko’s deep voice.

  “Yeah, I’m done.”

  The door pushed open and he walked in, naked.

  “You desperate, huh?” I raised my eyebrows at him.

  “I feel like a snake on a spit.”

  I chuckled. “We don’t want that, officer.” My gaze drifted over his long, lean body as he stepped into the shower. His pale skin hugged his muscles which rippled beneath the surface. He had indents on the sides of his buttocks and his chest was practically hairless.

  His cock was large and flaccid.

  “So what’s with the eagle tat?” I asked, then helped myself to toothpaste and finger-brushed my teeth.

  “Slovak military.
”

  I watched his reflection in the mirror, enjoying how uninhibited he was at being naked in front of me. He held his face to the stream of water, his arms raised, hands running over his hair and his torso stretching. The water darkened the already near black image of an eagle on his right pec. It was different to any kind of American golden eagle tattoo. To me it screamed Eastern Bloc and Russia, places I’d never been. It was a symbol rather than trying to be lifelike. The eagle’s head was turned to the right, its wings were spread, with four thick feathers hanging down from each one. Between its legs was a shield with a cross and two swords fanning out from it. It screamed military.

  “I thought you moved here when you were ten, how come you have Slovak military inked on your body?”

  “When I was eighteen I returned to my home country for national service.”

  “Surely you didn’t need to do that if you were living here and—”

  “I wanted to. I wanted the experience and the training.”

  “Oh, okay. And did you get what you wanted from it?”

  “Yes.” He nodded and turned so his back was to me and reached for the shampoo.

  I cupped some water in my hand, rinsed and spat. “And then you came back here to your family. I like that you did that.”

  “My family aren’t here any more. When the political climate changed in Slovakia a few years ago they made a decision to move home. My father’s business had peaked and he sold it for enough money to keep them comfortable in Bardejov, the town I was born in.” He shrugged and scrubbed at his hair. “They’re happier now.”

  “And you stayed here.”

  “This is where my life is. I’m a SWAT officer. The people I protect are the people I grew up with. I feel it’s my duty to them.”

  I reached for a towel and walked up to the cubicle.

  The last of the suds were slipping down his shins and calves. “And we’re lucky to have you, officer,” I said with a smile.

  He didn’t reply. Instead he stepped out, taking the towel from me. His cock wasn’t as flaccid as it had been.

  Ah, so he’s not quite as cool as he pretends to be about being in here with me, naked.

  “What was that?” he said, glancing at the door.

  “Coms, I think.” I wandered out, sashaying my ass just a bit.

  Balko was hot, and exotic, and if I was honest, he fascinated me.