Blazer: Return of the Troubles: A Cop Thriller

by G. C. Harmon

  Drew stepped in as well, thrusting low.

  Conner ran right into the tip of his blade. It plunged deep into his chest. Conner froze his charge, and his face registered the surprise at the pain of the metal stabbing into him. The raised sword slowly sank as his arms weakened. Drew suddenly stepped back, yanking the rapier blade from Conner’s chest. Blood immediately spilled onto the Irishman’s already reddened shirt. The sword clattered to the floor. Conner sank to his knees, then wilted onto his side. His eyelids slowly sank closed.

  Drew stood over him, staring down at the obviously dead man, trying to catch his breath. He let go the rapier, and it clattered to the ground. The danger to his cousin was over, but he was left with the shock of what he’d just done. What he’d been driven to, he reminded himself.

  The sound of gunfire from outside filtered into his consciousness. Steven and his Police team were obviously still fighting. Brian Snow was injured, somewhere upstairs with his cousin. He broke from the dead Irishman and hurried out to the alcove. He mounted the staircase to seek them out on the floors above.

  The battle had once again reached a kind of stalemate. Liam stood behind one stone column, firing his M-4 at the cops across the waters of the Neptune pool. The cops had taken the opposite pavilion and were ensconced behind the columns across from them. Liam fired out his magazine. His spent brass scattered onto the pool deck and some into the water. He could see his rounds kicking up dust from the columns of the other pavilion. Once again, Liam cursed himself for choosing this direction instead of the other side, nearer the driveway.

  Liam leaned out from behind his column, sent another burst across the water, and pulled back when his rifle locked empty. He cursed as he realized he was about to load his last magazine.

  Something caught his eye on the hillside above. When most of the event participants had fled out to the driveway and left in their vehicles, he spotted one man at the edge of the Esplanade, staring down at the battle taking place. He did a double take when he realized…

  Thomas had arrived, which means that he had their backup.

  He waved his arms wildly, hoping to motion for Thomas to bring the lads. He glanced across the water to try and place where the cops were. Maybe he could communicate to Thomas a way to sneak up behind them. But when he looked back up the slope, Thomas had gone. He fished out his cell phone to try and reach him. More cop rounds chipped away at his column. He glanced over at Devon and Deirdre nearby. Both appeared to be terrified and looking to him for guidance. He gestured at the other pavilion. “Keep firing!”

  With Keith Mullens driving the second Dodge Durango that the group used for their activities, Thomas guided them down Highway 1. Their mission to the Oakland docks had been a successful one. The ship captain had been persuaded to go along with their plan, though Crazy Keith Mullens had to tear apart the bridge of the ship to convince him. Several torn charts and shattered coffee makers later, they had their agreement, though Thomas did make good on Liam’s offer of an extra ten thousand dollars to transport their cargo. Once they’d left Oakland and the coast highway, he’d fired off a text to Liam that they were on their way.

  They finally reached the entrance to Hearst Castle Park, with the decorative concrete wall and sign just off the highway. Not knowing what to expect, Keith drove in the entrance.

  When they reached the Visitor’s Center, they found activity. A couple of the limos had gone up to La Casa Grande and picked up their charges, bringing them here to relative safety. Thomas glanced around and spotted the two marked Law Enforcement sedans that had been smashed aside by a passing vehicle. Several uniformed officers were milling about. Off to one side, he saw two sheets covering what he believed to be dead bodies.

  He had no choice, he knew what he had to do. Mullens would have no problem doing it. “There,” he ordered, “Ram us through there.”

  Mullens immediately hit the gas. They surged across the parking lot.

  Thomas braced himself as they rapidly closed in on the cops. The closer he got, he could see the smashed front ends where the two sedans were rammed aside. He thought he saw bullet holes in one.

  The cops saw the commotion, and several of them ran to try and stand in the road to block it. This didn’t last when they saw that the driver had no intention of stopping. Two men ran from the path of the charging vehicle, and two more dove out of the way.

  As they surged past, the cops took the road back in their wake. Several of them pulled their service weapons and fired after the Durango.

  In the front seats, Thomas and Keith ducked down as bullets shattered their rear windshield and punched holes through the front. Keith checked the road and jerked the wheel to straighten them out. He suddenly let out a loud war whoop, bringing a tension-breaking smile to the others.

  Thomas glanced back at Joseph and Dennis. They appeared nervous but were enthralled by everything. To Mullens, he said, “Let’s get to the top of that hill.”

  The drive became a treacherous one, as Mullens took their speed up to near seventy and nearly ran off the road in a couple of those curves. In minutes, he was hitting the brakes at the bus drop-off, where other participants of the conference were boarding their limousines. Some of them looked up as the vehicle screeched to a halt nearby.

  “Something is going on,” Thomas told them. “Stay here while I try to find out.”

  “If something is going on, I’m going to help you out,” Mullens announced.

  Thomas didn’t argue. He had his door open and jumped out even before the Durango was at a full stop. Mullens left the engine running but raced around to join Thomas on the stairs.

  Even as they mounted the steps, they heard gunfire coming from above. Thomas had his Browning Hi-Power stuffed into the back of his pants, and he pulled it out, heading up toward La Casa Grande.

  No one was left on the Esplanade, and from a side door under and behind the bell towers, they heard a volley of shots that died out. Thomas started toward that door, but figures running across a lower terrace drew his attention, and he quickly ducked behind a statue, pulling Keith with him. The group ran for their lives to a walkway that led down the slope. Thomas stepped out and recognized Deirdre running that way. He was about to call out to them and tell them he was there with reinforcements when movement caught his eye. He ducked back suddenly as more running men traversed the plaza.

  Cops.

  Gunfire rang out again, and in moments, a full scale battle raged below. Thomas broke from cover to try and get a view. The cops had chased the crew down to the Neptune Pool, and both parties had ensconced themselves on either side of the pool, among the stone columns to trade shots across the water. He stepped out into the open, scanning the pool below. He caught sight of Liam behind one of the far columns. Liam spotted him as well, and he began waving his arm.

  Thomas understood. They needed backup.

  Mullens was checking the area as well. He examined the layout of the Neptune Pool, then spotted a wide open terrace just above it. He broke into smile as a particular violent thought occurred to him.

  Thomas grabbed him, and they raced back down the stairs to their Durango.

  He plunged down the last stairs and practically crashed into their SUV. “Let’s go!” he shouted to the others, “They need our help!”

  “Get in!” Mullens shouted as he raced back around to the driver’s side.

  “What?”

  “Get in. I’ll get us there.”

  Confused and curious, Thomas climbed back in.

  Mullens first dropped the gear into reverse and suddenly backed away from the curb. Thomas had a sudden realization, but it had no time to materialize. Mullens hit the gas.

  They surged forward. The tires bounced up onto the curb. Mullens never let off the gas, their front wheels hit the bottom of the staircase. They hit at an angle, the Durango teetered left then right. The tires slipped and caught and pressed them forward. The SUV jolted back and forth, bouncing up the steps. In moments, they reached a la
nding, scooted across and bounced up onto another set of steps.

  Thomas moved his hands and arms between holding the dashboard, the roof, the door, anything that would keep him from bouncing too much. Mullens steered right and down another short steps. Going down was easier than up, and they practically coasted down onto a plaza below the Esplanade.

  After their wild ride, Mullens paused to catch his breath.

  Thomas suddenly looked at him. “Are you bloody crazy?”

  Keith laughed his goofy laugh. “Yeah, mate, I think I might just be.”

  He gauged the road ahead of them. The plaza was surrounded by a low railing made of concrete, which rose to a height of about two feet. Just beyond that railing were more trees and bushes, and they could just see the tops of the pavilions surrounding the Neptune Pool.

  “What’s your bloody plan?” Thomas suddenly demanded.

  “We must break through that railing there,” Mullens pointed, “roll straight down that hill, and we’re right in the middle of the cops, ready to take them out.” Mullens shifted into reverse and backed up, only stopping when the rear of the Durango loudly bumped the concrete barrier and jarred them to a stop. He shifted to drive and held the brake, then revved the engine.

  Thomas suddenly wanted out of the vehicle. “You are bloody crazy. It won’t work.”

  Keith hit the gas.

  They surged forward, their speed building. The plaza had a kind of curve to it, and he guided the Durango through a gentle left-ward drift.

  “No!” Thomas cried as soon as they moved. He suddenly reached out and tried to grab the wheel. The momentum impeded him, and Mullens resisted, dead set on his crazy idea. Thomas grappled for the wheel. Keith pushed his shoulder into him, holding his control. Thomas then snaked his leg under Keith’s to try and find the brake. He only succeeded in pressing Keith’s foot down on the gas.

  Their speed quickly edged up to fifty miles per hour. Just beyond the plaza, a tall palm tree loomed, and Keith wrestled the wheel the other way.

  They hit the concrete railing faster than he’d wanted and smashed right through. The palm tree loomed to the left, but they sailed into the air, flying right past it. The front end began to drop, and suddenly the waters of the Neptune Pool loomed before them.

  Steve pulled back to reload his rifle. A massive crash sounded above him. He felt the vibration as much as heard it. He ducked reflexively, and quickly searched for the source of—

  Just above him, he spotted large chunks of concrete flying through the air. The next instant, he saw the vehicle that had careened and smashed through the concrete railing of the plaza above. That vehicle sailed through the air until it disappeared from his view above the pavilion. Chunks of concrete began to rain down on him, tumbling into the bushes, onto the pool deck and into the water.

  What the hell—?

  As the nose dropped, they saw that they were dropping onto the top of the pavilion. They landed with a severe jolt, shaking everyone inside.

  By now, Mullens had abdicated any control he thought he had over the vehicle. His limbs were still tangled with Thomas, and the force of their movement kept him from freeing himself to drive the vehicle.

  The top of the pavilion was surrounded by another concrete railing, similar to the one they had just crashed through. The vehicle landed and bounced and swerved to the right. The pavilion was built in a curve, and the SUV swerved until it touched the railing on the right side. The concrete scraped the passenger side, but the vehicle followed the gentle curve. It suddenly reached the end of the pavilion, where the railing wrapped around to the other side. They were still going fast enough that they smashed through this too.

  As the vehicle crashed the party, all gunfire stopped. Steve heard and felt the vehicle racing along the top of the pavilion above him. The next crash felt like another earthquake. He then spotted the vehicle as it flew from the top of the pavilion, and straight into the Roman temple dragging a wake of dust and falling debris. The vehicle dropped slightly from its launch point, but missiled into the first two columns of the temple façade.

  Steve raced toward that end of the pavilion. He stayed under cover as chunks of concrete still fell before him, tumbling over the pool deck and splashing into the formerly clear blue water. Steve glanced across the pool at where the Irish were hiding. They had slacked their gunfire to watch the crash, but Steve didn’t want to give them any new opportunities, and he kept one column between him and them. But his attention was on the flying vehicle.

  The Durango had impacted the side of the first column, which sheared away the right front fender and door, before crashing head-on into the second column. As Steve watched, gravity finally took its due, and the vehicle dropped. They were fifteen above the pool and landed with the front end of the vehicle crunching into the deck. They impacted next to a white statue, breaking off pieces and knocking it aside, where it shattered on the pool deck. The rear half of the Durango hit the water, sending up a massive splash.

  Steve was about to rush forward to the car when a burst of a grinding noise reached him, then another. He glanced up and saw that the crash had done some damage. The first column had been knocked out of place. He saw a puff of dust where a piece of the stone broke, like an axe to a tree. The column buckled and broke. The top third crumbled away and suddenly plummeted…

  Thomas had been knocked nearly senseless by the head-on crash into the pillar. His head snapped back when they landed in the pool. He slowly opened his eyes, then suddenly glanced around. In the mirror just outside his door, he got a brief look at his face. He was covered in blood from a severe gash across his forehead. I hit the windshield, he realized. He tasted that blood flowing freely into his mouth.

  A burst of maniacal laughter next to him gave him a start. He suddenly looked over at Mullens. He truly was insane. His face was smeared in blood as well. Blood flowed from his mouth, where Thomas got a brief look at more missing teeth. Mullens looked over at him and cackled again.

  A horrid sound above them grabbed everyone’s attention. Both of them looked up at the massive chunk of the column dropping toward them. Thomas had enough time to open his eyes wide and draw breath for a scream before he was crushed to death, that scream never birthed.

  Steve turned briefly away from the final insult, the column crushing the vehicle that had broken it down. The column hit the water like pounding surf, sending up a plume of spray and a massive wave that spread across the entire pool. Water splashed among the columns of the pavilion, dousing the cops. Steve stayed where he was for the moment, glancing up at the Roman Temple façade. The second column had been knocked out of place as well, and as he watched, it slowly teetered, rolled out of place and toppled into the pool. It tried to stretch further across the water, and the splash was powerful enough to again drench both pavilions.

  Steve ignored the tsunami that flowed around his feet and splashed his lower body. He eyed the top of the Roman Temple. With two of its support columns now gone, he had to wonder if the whole thing would come toppling down. He glanced at the crushed car, then across the water. They’d have to risk it. “A.J., cover the other side. Scot, let’s check that car before the whole damn thing comes down.”

  A.J. moved forward to a column near the water, and raised his M-4, moving the barrel across the other pavilion to search for targets. Steve and Scot broke cover at a crouch and moved the few yards to the new Roman ruins. As they reached the crushed car, they could already see there would be no survivors. The Durango was a flattened ghost of its former self. A single arm hung out the back window, and the body it was supposedly attached to was buried beneath the crushing column. Blood was leaking from someone somewhere inside the vehicle, spreading out into the water around it.

  A single bullet ricocheted of the toppled column. They then heard a burst from A.J.’s rifle. “They’re on the move!” Miano shouted.

  “Get to cover,” Steve said to Scot, knowing he was mostly unarmed. Scot quickly retreated back to the pavilion
as A.J. fired another burst to cover him.

  Steve hoisted his M-4 and crept quickly toward the base of the column. It had landed several feet short of the steps leading up to the temple façade. He leaned against the jagged stone where the base had torn away and pivoted out for a brief look. Another single bullet scarred the stone as he pulled back. At the same time, more gunfire sounded from his left, A.J. pounding away at the shooters across the water. Steve leaned out again and opened fire.

  Liam was in utter shock from the spectacle he’d beheld. Seeing the SUV flying through the air, hitting the Temple façade, taking down two of the columns—and getting crushed in the process. What the bloody hell was going through Thomas’s mind? Then again, Keith Mullens seemed to be just crazy enough to have tried something like that. It obviously backfired. Everyone in the vehicle had been crushed as a result. He felt a fleeting pang of regret for bringing an unknown like Mullens into their crew. This now left them with no backup, and no way out of this shite.

  The gunfire started anew. Liam spotted one of the cops moving among the ruins and sent a round his way. The next second, gunfire from across the pool pounded his column. Then the cop he’d shot at returned fire, catching him in a crossfire. He felt two rounds hit him. One tore through the meat of his left shoulder, the other dug a trough across his hip.

  For a second, there was a free for all of gunfire. Devon and Deirdre fired on automatic. Lead pounded both pavilions, brass littered the deck, and emotions rose to a fever. But the free-for-all didn’t last. Devon was hit by a line of lead that stitched up his torso, three rounds pulverizing his insides. The rounds drove him back until he dropped dead. Will was behind a column at the far end. He stepped out to fire but was cut down as well. His killer was somewhere on the veranda above the pool. Seconds later, Deirdre was hit by a single bullet high in her chest. She went down, her face frozen in a look of shock.