SERENITY: A Path Home (Beauty 0f Life Book 6)

by Laura Acton

  As he grabbed his go bag and they exited his apartment, Dan shifted the conversation back to Loki’s prior comment. “Any idea who we’re serving a warrant on?”

  Lexa’s eyes flashed with humor. “We get to take down the Grinch Brigade today. That’s sure to put us on Santa’s nice list. Right, Loki?”

  “Absolutely!” Loki bounded down the stairs, happy his worries about Dan’s health and well-being were unfounded. A nightmare was preferable to Dan being deathly ill or abducted by someone wanting to do him harm.

  Dan glanced at Lexa as they followed Loki. The smile she gifted him set his world to rights. In return, he gave her a WOW smile. Life’s great!

  TRF HQ – Briefing Room – 8:15 a.m.

  After arriving, Dan rushed to dress. He didn’t want to delay the warrant or be left behind because he wasn’t ready. Unsure how Boss and Jon would react to him arriving over an hour late, old habits unconsciously enfolded him. Stiffly, Dan marched into the room going directly to the boss. He stopped and came to rigid attention. “Sir, I overslept. It will not happen again.”

  Nick noted the military bearing and return of ‘Sir’ and wished they hadn’t reappeared, but comprehended why they might’ve. He suppressed a sigh, but his eyes softened as he held Dan’s steady yet stoic gaze. “Relax, Dan. Happens to all of us now and then. Are you fit for duty?”

  Relaxing slightly, Dan noted his sergeant didn’t appear unduly angry or much different than usual. “Yes, sir.”

  Jon pinched his brow as he observed Dan. Damn, where did the soldier bearing come from? Must be a holdover or ingrained from growing up. Thought we were past all that. Wanting Dan to drop his soldier persona, Jon pitched his voice in a friendly tone. “Excellent, Dano. Take a seat we need to review the tactical plan.”

  At Jon’s tone and words, the well-worn cloak slid off, and Dan relaxed. No one would ream him over being late. As he sat down, Loki slid a phone to him. Dan stared at the cell phone and then at Loki.

  Loki beamed. “Told you I’d hook you up. Can’t have you out of back up communication. While you changed, I transferred your data. I salvaged all your contacts and photos, too.”

  “Thanks, Loki.” Dan grinned as he put the new phone in his pocket.

  Jon began to go over the plan. The Grinch Brigade was holed up in an old warehouse previously used by a props business. The single-level brick building had three loading docks with ten-foot wide rolling doors and two regular sized entry doors on the west side. There were no windows or access points on the east, south, or north sides of the warehouse. The flat-top roof had four equally spaced large skylights to provide natural light.

  “Dan and Lexa will take the skylights and feed us information on the position of the five subjects. Contingent on their location we will breach either the north or south door after securing the door we will not breach by blocking it with one of the SUVs,” Jon stated.

  Dan studied the layout and didn’t like the Zulu options. There were blind spots inside. The team would be vulnerable at times depending on where the subjects were located. “I don’t like my coverage options. Once Lexa joins you below, I won’t have visibility to all areas.”

  “Yeah, I hear ya.” Jon blew out a breath. He had learned to listen to Dan in these planning sessions. He often had unique solutions for tactical challenges. “Got any suggestions?”

  Dan drummed his fingers on the table. Reasonably sure his option would be cratered, Dan offered it up anyway. “After we locate them let me join you when entering. I’ll be able to cover you better from inside.” He locked gazes with Jon, and read the answer before he spoke.

  “Light duty, Dano. You know that means no entry for you. Only Lexa will be joining us for entry.” Jon caught the flicker of disappointment in Dan’s eye, so added, “We need you where we can use you. You do realize I’m bending the rules a bit even allowing you to go up on the roof. By rights, you shouldn’t be going on this call.”

  Dan nodded curtly. True he was not relegated to the truck or being left at headquarters. Though, he still wished he could go in with them to provide better coverage. Shoving those desires to the rear of his mind, he concentrated on the fact Jon was allowing him to be Zulu One. He would protect them to the best of his ability from that position.

  The team spent the next hour reviewing all aspects of the plan and the subjects they were serving the warrant on. G and G provided them a list of the potential weaponry the captured gang member indicated they possessed.

  At nine fifteen, Tia entered the briefing room with a piece of paper which she handed to Nick. “Warrant is in.”

  Nick stood. “Time to gear up.”

  Grinch Brigade

  55

  December 24

  Grinch Brigade Warehouse – East Side – 9:30 a.m.

  Even with tippy toes Lexa scarcely reached the gas pedal as she sat on the edge of the bench seat in a Toronto Power Company utility truck. Moving her right foot to the brake as she depressed the clutch with her left, Lexa shifted into park, then turned to pin her glare on Dan. “Quit snickering!”

  Trying and failing to stop, Dan took in the sight of his petite girlfriend slash teammate. “You’re the one who insisted on driving. Not my fault you can barely reach the pedals, Shorty.”

  Shorty? Oooh, Broderick, you will pay for that one. “When’s the last time you drove a vehicle with a clutch and five on the floor? Huh? That’s right. You don’t know how!” Lexa smirked at Dan as they waited for the signal to move.

  “Wrong! You forget, I ride a Ducati. Plus, I drove lots of military vehicles—even tanks.” Though, with the tank, I was shit-faced drunk and more crashed than drove—not admitting that part to her. Dan flashed her a smile as he pulled on a cap with the utility’s logo, enjoying their banter as the others moved into their positions. Both he and Lexa wore utility company jumpsuits over their uniforms. Lexa’s small frame swam in the men’s small, extra-large on her.

  “Yeah, well, you can’t drive today. You’re on restricted duty!” Lexa recalled the planning session. Jon about hit the ceiling when Dan suggested using grappling hooks to climb to the roof of the building. Their tactical lead’s voice had blared like a sonic boom, “What don’t you understand about light duty? Climbing will strain your chest muscles!”

  Ray came up with the idea of disguising them as utility workers and using a bucket truck to access the rooftop. With the ice storm two weeks ago, the power company was still highly visible in the area as they worked to repair all the damage. If any of the gang spotted them, they wouldn’t be alerted before the rest of the team was in place and ready to execute the warrant.

  A block away, Nick said, “Ready on the north and perimeter is secured.”

  Ray halted the SUV in an alley. “In position on the south.”

  Hidden in an adjacent business, Jon directed, “Dan, Lexa, you’re a go.”

  Glancing at Lexa, Dan grabbed his Remi which was concealed in a long tool bag as she grasped a pack containing her rappelling gear. “Ready?”

  She nodded. They exited, put their gear in the bucket, and climbed in. Dan manned the controls, having received a crash course in the apparatus’ use. Crash being the operative word as their ascent was bumpy and he nearly ran the hydraulic bucket into the windowless brick exterior.

  Lexa snickered at Dan the whole time he haphazardly maneuvered them up fifteen feet. Jerking to a stop as they reached the top, Lexa couldn’t resist teasing him, “I should’ve driven this too.”

  Dan chuckled as he slung the Remi bag over his shoulder. “Yeah, well, Jon should’ve let me climb. We would’ve already been in position.”

  Over the headset, Jon sternly reiterated, “Restricted duty, Dano.”

  Grinch Brigade Warehouse – Rooftop – 9:40 a.m.

  “Yeah, I remember … nothing physical. Almost in place,” Dan responded as they moved from the swaying bucket onto the snow-covered roof. Noting the foot or so of snow, Dan said, “This should help muffle our steps.”

&nbs
p; “Should. I’ll take south,” Lexa said as she attached her line to the only anchor she could find—an old chimney pipe. After establishing the subjects’ whereabouts, she would rappel down to join the rest of the team for a hard and fast tactical entry while Dan maintained Zulu One.

  Doing a rapid scan for other options and finding none on the ancient building, Dan double-checked Lexa’s line, ensuring the rope was adequately secured. “This is corroded. Wish you had a better anchor point.”

  As Lexa shed the over-sized utility overalls, needing her police uniform visible for later, she said, “Not great, but it’ll hold my weight.”

  With a wink, Dan teased, “Perhaps before, but after all the cookies you’ve eaten in the last two weeks … just sayin’.” Her raised fist and ‘if looks could kill’ expression were the reactions he anticipated and relieved both their tension over her less than optimal anchor—falling from this height could be deadly.

  Loki’s astonished voice rang out, “Dan, you’re a dead man. Even I know not to say anything about Lexa’s weight.”

  Nick smiled but put a kibosh on further banter. “Focus team.”

  “Copy,” each replied as Dan shouldered his Remi and headed north.

  Lexa went south to the first skylight and brushed the snow away. She peered in through the yellowed plexiglass and called out quietly, “No subjects located from the south middle light. Heading to the one farthest south.”

  As Lexa rose and hurried toward the next skylight, the roof seemed spongy underfoot. She attributed it to the thick layer of snow and gave no more thought to it as she knelt down again.

  Dan crouched and wiped snow off a small section of the cracked skylight. He surveyed all directions. “No joy on subjects in the middle north, but there’s a ton of toys stacked up—no weapons, though. Moving to the far north.” With careful, light steps, Dan noiselessly made his way across the aging roof. Stealth and surprise were keys to their safety and the success of this warrant.

  Lexa scanned the area. “No gang members, but I located their cache of weapons. Appears Guns and Gangs weren’t exaggerating. I count at least a dozen submachine guns plus another half-dozen handguns and tons of ammo boxes. This is a munitions depot.”

  Dan took a knee and placed his gloved hand on the skylight to remove the piled snow. “I see four men. Hold, need to reposition for a better view of them.” Dan stood and went to the other side. He brushed the snow from the window. “Five of five located on the north side. Two appear to be sleeping on sofas. There are two more sitting at a table eating cereal. The last is a little further south and appears to be playing with a remote-control car.”

  Jon said, “Ray, block the south exit then join us. Lexa—”

  “On my way down,” Lexa overrode Jon, already trotting to her rappelling line. She glanced at Dan, he hated having to sit this one out, and she agreed his Zulu position didn’t cover all areas inside.

  Dan cleared away more snow giving him a broader viewing range. In case he had to take a shot, Dan used his cutting tool to make an opening. When he finished, he said, “Zulu One in position. Eyes on five. No change in positions.”

  Grinch Brigade Warehouse – 9:50 a.m.

  Jon and Loki held shields at the ready as Bram prepared to use the ram. Lexa sprinted around the building just as Ray joined the team after blocking the southern exit. Ray, Lexa, and Nick had flashbangs ready to throw in three directions.

  “Three, two, one. Go,” Jon called.

  Bram rammed the door, and it went flying open. Lexa, Nick, and Ray threw the flashbangs. Loki and Jon burst in with the shields yelling, “Police. Stay where you are.”

  In the chaos created by flashing lights, deafening bangs, and smoke, four of five subjects were stunned, pulled to the floor, and handcuffed. The fifth man bolted towards the south side of the warehouse. Through the smoky haze, Jon glimpsed the running man and tapped Bram’s arm as he communicated to the team, “In pursuit of a subject.”

  Grinch Brigade Warehouse – Rooftop – 9:50 a.m.

  Dan lost sight of the runner. “Heading south to cover you.” Gripping his Remi, Dan sprinted across the roof, no longer caring about stealth or his own well-being, his sole goal was to protect his team from armor-piercing bullets. He wouldn’t let the gang member obtain a weapon and harm his family.

  As Dan passed the middle south skylight and his foot slammed down hard again, he noted the material beneath him moved. Realizing the strained roof was about to collapse, he continued running as the area under him gave way. He dove, losing hold of the sniper rifle, desperately reaching for a stable handhold. Making contact with something solid, he seized the lifeline tightly as his body swung wildly into the void.

  Grinch Brigade Warehouse – Interior – 9:52 a.m.

  Jon and Bram dashed after the man who attempted to evade capture. Loud cracking reverberated off the walls of the primarily empty warehouse as the subject fumbled for and obtained a submachine gun. Bram and Jon ducked for cover as beams, roofing material, and snow rained down.

  In the silence which followed the echo of crashing debris, a stunned tactical lead and entry specialist uncovered their heads and gaped up to where the roof used to be. Daylight flooded in through the billowing mist of particulate dust. The effect surreal as if a bomb exploded, which both men initially thought happened. In the next second, both recalled the armed gangster and returned their gazes to the warehouse searching for him.

  Coughing as he breathed in the thick dust, Bram caught sight of the man first. Taking a few steps forward he pointed. “Jon, over there. He’s dead.”

  Jon turned to the location Bram indicated as he coughed after inhaling some dust. Buried under the rubble and impaled by a piece of rebar through his eye lay the deceased man. He only gave the felon a second’s notice before his chest constricted and breathing became difficult as his eyes lit upon a familiar item. Dan’s Remi! A wave of fear rolled in as he frantically scanned the wreckage, praying not to find the broken body of his sniper, Jon demanded, “Dan, status!”

  “A little help here.”

  Jon’s and Bram’s eyes whipped upward hearing Dan in their headsets and with their ears.

  “Aw Christ! Dan, hold on!” Bram shouted.

  Searching for a ladder or something to reach Dan, Jon’s eyes landed on a pile of old mattresses. “Bram, help me move these under Dan. It isn’t that far of a drop but better if he lands on something softer.”

  Loki rushed over to help after ensuring Boss, Lexa, and Ray had the cuffed subjects suitably covered and secured.

  Dan watched them stack several mattresses below him. His grip firm, he held on, but something gouged into his right palm. Dan examined what he grabbed and found his hands wrapped around a jagged metal beam.

  Once they positioned all the mattresses, Jon gazed up. “Okay to drop.”

  Holding fast with his left hand, Dan released the grip of his stinging right hand and wetness pooled under his slit glove. Hope this doesn’t require stitches. Eyeing what he clutched, Dan noted the rusty metal. Crap! When was my last tetanus shot? More immediate needs pushed the thought away. He inhaled and prepared to let go and fall fifteen feet. This is gonna hurt.

  As Dan dropped, he assumed a parachute landing position. With no chute risers to hold, he tucked his chin in and linked both hands behind his neck with elbows pulled in close. He landed with both legs slightly bent at the knee. When the balls of his feet struck the top mattress, he immediately threw himself sideways to distribute the landing shock sequentially along four points of his body—his calf, his thigh, his hip, and ending up on his side.

  He rolled onto his back, quickly assessing himself for injuries before breathing out in relief. Bruising to be sure, but nothing broken. Safe landing! Dan sat up, releasing his hands from their supportive position as Bram, Jon, and Loki circled him. He forced a grin. “Damn, glad these were here. Landing on the ground would’ve sucked.” He left off the word more.

  Jon spotted blood below Dan’s earlobe. �
��Dan, you’re injured.”

  Nodding in agreement, Dan began to stand. “Minor.”

  Loki tried to push Dan back down, his anxiety heightened from watching his friend hang from the ceiling, plummet fifteen feet, and from the smeared blood on Dan’s neck. “Your neck! Sit down.”

  Moving out of Loki’s reach, Dan faced his teammates, ready to downplay his aching body to reassure them. “Nothing wrong with my neck.”

  Bram caught a glimpse of the blood. “You’re bleeding. You should sit until you are checked out.”

  “I know. It’s minor.” Dan started removing his right glove. Once the glove was off, he showed them his hand. “Only a small scratch.”

  His face expressing relief, Jon realized blood from Dan’s palm transferred when he supported his neck. The laceration was more than a scratch as Dan claimed but less serious than it could’ve been. Though, the fall, even onto mattresses, had to jar his chest. Jon said, “Might be minor but your dismount still earned you an all-expenses-paid trip to the ER for a full exam.”

  Loki took Dan’s hand and bandaged the sliced palm with gauze. “Yeah! And minor or not, your cut could become infected. This isn’t the cleanest place, mold and other nasty bugs could be lurking about.”

  Bram added, “Small wounds can turn deadly. Remember the guy who died from a cat bite? By all appearances, originally insignificant, right, Jon?”

  “Exactly!” Jon eyed Dan, driving home the point he was going.

  Dan recognized that glare. Knowing the probability of changing his tactical lead’s mind was close to zero, he tried anyway. He pointed to the dead criminal. “Isn’t NRB going to want to talk to me?”

  Comprehension lit Jon’s eyes. A diversion tactic. “Nice try, Broderick. But you didn’t take a lethal shot, and it isn’t your fault the roof collapsed.”

  Ray and Lexa joined them after placing the remaining subjects in the custody of Guns and Gangs officers. Nick was still engaged in handing over the scene to Sergeant Bailey and Inspector Pope.