Sydney was told she didn’t need to be at the command post and staging area until six a.m. since her role involved primarily giving advice on the warrant results and appropriate booking charges. That role would not begin until arrestees started being brought into the command post, likely not until seven or eight. But she decided she wanted to be there for the actual warrant services scheduled to begin at five a.m. She knew from prior experience the teams of officers would be briefed early then respond to secondary staging areas they selected closer to their assigned target locations. It was imperative that when the warrant services began, the time each team made their entry had to be simultaneous at all forty-plus locations. Otherwise there would be phone calls made from friends in the neighborhood to other gang members at un-served locations and suspects could potentially flee or discard contraband prior to the officers’ arrival.
Sydney pulled into the Los Angeles Convention Center’s West Conference Hall parking garage at four-thirty the next morning and drove amongst barely organized chaos. Hundreds of police officers were gathered there. Many were already pulling away in caravans consisting of multiple vehicles. Others were gathered around their supervisors receiving briefings or were leaning on trunks of cars analyzing maps and photographs.
She parked out of the way then followed the signs into the adjacent building complex and soon found the convention hall that was outfitted as the command post for the operation. She checked in, noting the additional assistant district attorney assigned to work with her for the morning had not yet arrived. She then wandered to other tables and made the appropriate introductions and notifications to some of the other investigative and prosecutorial personnel present.
Sydney made her way to the end of the hall near some tables and a large map and white board display. She knew this would be the nerve center of the operation, where the command staff would be and where the primary information would be collected. She took a closer look at the map and saw it indicated all the locations to be served, the suspects being sought and the teams assigned. She knew from talking to Alex that her team was assigned location twenty-seven. She found location twenty-seven and confirmed the assigned team was “Central VC Squad two.” Central Division’s V.C.T.F. was Alex’s Violent Crime Task Force, and Squad two was the group of twelve officers assigned to her, or “my guys” as she always referred to them.
Sydney went on to note the details of location twenty-seven. It belonged to the girlfriend of a Temple Street gang member. He and his brother, the second suspect believed to frequent the location, utilized the house to stockpile and sell weapons and drugs. The outstanding suspect who was involved in the shoot-out with officers was also reputed to have stayed in the house prior to fleeing to Mexico.
Not exactly the boring location Alex tried to say it would be, Sydney thought to herself. Then she told herself this was a taste of what it’s going to be like as a cop’s girlfriend. The thought process literally stopped her in her tracks. They’d had a few dates. What was she doing thinking that way?
This is crazy, she silently chastised herself. We haven’t even talked about a commitment or anything. Girlfriend? Where did that come from? She had to admit she felt differently about this relationship than she ever had about any other. Was that just because Alex was a woman? Or was it because this relationship was going somewhere emotionally that no other relationship had gone? Was she possibly falling in love with her?
Sydney’s mind came back to the present when she overheard an officer announce to the command post personnel that all teams had reported they were at their forward staging areas and the orders for the entries to begin could be given at the incident commander’s discretion.
Sydney backed away and took a position near the communications unit. This was a table staffed by seasoned dispatchers who were assigned to manage radio communications in each of the four sectors. Sydney knew that at this stage of the operation all the important information would flow through these radio positions and would be dutifully documented and displayed by these dispatchers working behind the scenes. Sydney had noted from the organizational chart that locations fifteen through thirty were considered Sector Two, so she positioned herself near the radio table designated to handle Sector Two communications.
Moments later an officer with collar insignia indicating he was a captain turned to the communications tables.
“We’re a go,” he said. “Green lights all teams and all sectors.”
The dispatcher for Sector Two immediately broadcast the green light one at a time to each team, ensuring they acknowledged the operation was now active. When the dispatcher got to team twenty-seven Sydney was sure it was Alex’s voice she heard provide the verbal acknowledgment. She smiled. Alex sounded so crisp, professional, and all business. She was reminded again how she had first been so impressed with Alex’s calm and professional demeanor on the stand at the murder trial, how nothing had rattled her despite the best efforts and word games the high priced defense attorneys had engaged in.
For a minute or two after the green light was given there was silence on the radios, then teams gradually starting reporting their arrivals at their assigned target locations. The dispatchers again tracked the times for each team’s report.
“Now we get to see how successful we are,” the dispatcher assigned to Sector Two said to Sydney. She had obviously noted Sydney’s apparent interest in the radio traffic on her frequency.
Sydney acknowledged with a smile and a nod. She too knew the next radio broadcasts from each team would indicate their control and neutralization of the target location and whether they had any sought after suspects in custody. Later reports would include the results of searches, to include weapons, narcotics and money or any other evidence that was recovered.
Sure enough, within minutes reports started coming in regarding secure target locations and several included details and names of specific suspects in custody. Then suddenly all hell broke loose on the Sector Two frequency.
“Shots fired! Shots fired eight-ten North Coronado! Location twenty-seven!” said a male voice that sounded as if he was running. “Officer needs help, eight-ten North Coronado!”
“All units, officer needs help, shots fired. Eight-one-zero North Coronado in Rampart Division. Search warrant location twenty-seven.”
Sydney couldn’t understand how the dispatcher could remain so calm as she put the information out over the radio. There were several quick broadcasts from units responding, then silence on the air. Somewhere behind Sydney another officer switched to the Rampart Division patrol frequency and additional units were heard broadcasting their response to the help call in their own division.
Then suddenly Sydney heard Alex over the radio.
“Suspect is to the rear of eight-ten North Coronado. Male Hispanic, white shirt, blue pa—” Alex’s statement was interrupted by the sound of automatic weapon fire. The radio was left open for a second or two as the gunshots were heard repeatedly, then there was what sounded like static and the radio went silent.
Sydney stood still in horror, having difficulty breathing, feeling dizzy and terrified. An older dispatcher wearing the insignia of a supervisor on her uniform sweater was standing nearby and saw the look on Sydney’s face. She was immediately beside her, guiding her to a chair.
“Here you go, honey. Sit down here. Do you know someone on that team?” the dispatcher asked. Sydney could only nod in reply.
“Air Three is overhead.” The radio crackled as the police helicopter broadcast they were over the incident, then added, “Start rolling a rescue ambulance. We’ve got one down in the backyard.”
Sydney closed her eyes. Who? She was screaming inside. Who do they need the ambulance for? Why isn’t anyone saying anything?
Then she heard another broadcast.
“You can show a code four at eight-ten North Coronado, suspects are in custody. We need an RA unit for a male, approximately twenty years of age, suffering from a gunshot wound to the shoulder.”
Sydney gasped in relief when she heard Alex’s voice come over the air. She sounded unhurt, calm and commanding. Sydney covered her face with her hands, and concentrated on pulling herself together. The senior dispatcher seated beside her rubbed her back.
“There now. Everything’s good. Sounds like the only one hurt is the bad guy.”
Sydney nodded and quietly thanked her for her kindness. She looked up to see numerous members of the command post staff talking on cell phones while simultaneously giving orders to subordinates. Sydney pulled her cell phone from her pocket but realized she couldn’t call Alex. Alex was probably on her phone right now with one of the command staff here. She would be way too busy to stop and talk to Sydney. Sydney decided all she could do was her job, hoping that the dispatcher was right and that it was only the bad guy who was injured.
Sydney took her position at the District Attorney table amongst the investigative entities who would be processing the arrestees and evidence. Another attorney soon joined her from her office and together they began working through the cases as officers filtered in with arrestees, weapons, money, narcotics and other evidence of criminal activity and gang affiliation. Most of the weapons cases were referred to federal prosecutors, as well as one or two high-level narcotics cases. But the vast majority of the arrests fell to the District Attorney’s Office, and Sydney and her partner had to conduct a preliminary case review and provide guidance on the most appropriate booking charges.
Over an hour later there was a slight lull in the activity and Sydney leaned her elbows on the table and put her face in her hands. She was drained and finding it hard to concentrate on the task at hand. If she could talk to Alex, be absolutely sure she was okay, if she just had some reassurance.
A moment later Sydney was startled by a tap on her shoulder. She lifted her head and turned to find Sal standing next to her. Sydney wasn’t sure if she should be relieved or concerned by his presence.
“Hi,” he said. “We have a mutual friend in common who was hoping to speak to you. Do you have few minutes?”
Sydney knew that friend could only be one person. She turned immediately to Steve, the assistant district attorney working beside her. “Can you hold the fort for a few minutes, Steve?”
“Not a problem,” he said. “Take your time.”
Sydney got up and followed Sal as he walked out of the command post and convention hall into the adjacent parking garage. There he headed away from the loitering police officers to a distant dimly lit corner where a lone black and white police car was parked behind a convention center maintenance van, both positioned next to the wall.
As they neared the two isolated vehicles Sal stopped at the back of the van and indicated that Sydney should continue around to the other side, between the van and the wall. Sydney peeked around the corner and saw Alex standing there, nonchalantly leaning on the wall, out of view of the rest of the garage occupants.
Sydney stood still, overwhelmed by her own emotions and the relief she felt. She once again felt as if she had difficulty breathing and her knees were shaky. She was aware of Sal saying something to Alex.
“Five minutes, Alex. That’s all I can give you. I’m gonna go make a head call.”
Alex nodded acknowledgment then noticed Sydney’s distress. She was beside her instantly.
“What’s wrong?” she asked as she reached out to support Sydney, concern in her eyes.
“I was here,” Sydney said. “I heard the radio...your voice...the shots...the call for an ambulance...”
ALEX DIDN’T KNOW what to say. It had never occurred to her that Sydney would have heard anything. Her current status involved essentially playing hooky, escaping momentarily from where she was supposed to be to come surprise Sydney and say hi. That and she figured she would have to explain why she might be a little late for their dinner date that evening. She was somewhat overwhelmed by Sydney’s reaction. Sydney had been scared for her, concerned about her wellbeing. Alex hated that she had caused this wonderful woman such distress. She pulled Sydney into a tight embrace.
“I’m fine. There’s nothing to worry about. Everything is fine,” she said soothingly.
Sydney took a deep, ragged breath, then looked up into Alex’s face. “I’m sorry—” she started to say. But Alex stopped her, placing a finger gently across her lips.
“No,” Alex said. “I’m sorry for scaring you. For upsetting you. I don’t want to be the cause of that.” They stood embracing one another silently for several minutes until Alex finally broke the silence.
“I’m not supposed to be here, you know.” Alex chuckled as she spoke. “After a critical incident like a shooting all the involved and witness officers have to be separated and escorted by a department supervisor until they’re officially interviewed. Luckily Sal was here with his squad and they’d already secured their location. He got himself to the scene and assigned as my babysitter. As far as everyone is concerned we’re en route to Rampart Station. We went a little out of the way to make a bathroom call here. At least that’s our excuse. I actually just wanted to see you.”
Sydney looked up into Alex’s face once again and asked quietly, “Did you shoot him?”
Alex shook her head. “Nah,” she said, not adding that she was more than a little pissed at herself for not reacting faster. “One guy was in the house and went to guns there as soon as we came through the door. Then he ran, so a couple of us chased him out the back door and across the yard. I never even saw the other guy come out of the shed in the backyard and start shooting the AK. One of the perimeter officers assigned to the rear alley took him down while I was diving for cover and trying to figure out where the bullets were coming from.” Alex smiled. Sydney didn’t seem to see the humor in it.
Sydney put her head on Alex’s shoulder then squeezed her arms around Alex tighter.
“I think I might be a little late for dinner tonight,” Alex said quietly. “These things can take a long time.”
“That’s okay,” Sydney said. “Come by when you’re done.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely. I don’t care what time it is.” Sydney stepped back as Alex released her, running her hands down Sydney’s arms to hold each of her hands within her own. “I’ll wait for you,” Sydney said with a reassuring smile, squeezing Alex’s hands in return.
Sydney looked over to see Sal approaching. “You guys need to get on your way before you’re missed by someone far more important than me,” she whispered. “Go. Maybe the sooner you go and get this done the sooner you can see me tonight.” She leaned up to give Alex a light kiss then turned to walk around the van and back toward the convention hall. As Sydney passed Sal coming the other way, she reached out and squeezed the man’s arm.
“Thank you,” she said quietly, then disappeared into the command post.
THE FIRE WAS burning in the fireplace in the den as Sydney sat on the couch, staring at nothing. She had returned from work in the early evening and tried to relax after the emotional day. She knew she was exhausted but had been unable to sleep as the sound of Alex’s voice during the shooting kept playing over and over again in her head. She looked frequently at the clock on the mantel, counting the minutes until Alex would arrive.
Sydney finally gave up trying to relax and went down to the kitchen. She began wiping counters and cleaning the stovetop, for the second time that evening, as the thoughts kept speeding through her mind. The truth was that up until this point Sydney had been downplaying her feelings for Alex. True, she was confused about some things, but she could no longer deny how she cared for this woman and the depth of her feelings. She wanted, needed, Alex in her life and they would have to figure out how it would all work.
Just as this mantra was playing in her head she heard a light knock on the door. Sydney shot down the hall and was at the entry way in seconds. Her abrupt opening of the door caused Alex to take a step back in surprise. Alex dropped her bag and Sydney was instantly in her arms, burying her face
in Alex’s chest. Several moments later Sydney raised her head to look into Alex’s face.
“Hey,” Alex said. “You okay?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”
“I’m fine, really. I promise.”
“God, this cop thing is going to take some getting used to.” Sydney felt Alex’s arms tighten around her and a hand rub gentle circles on her back.
“Have you slept at all today?” Alex said. “Its eleven o’clock and you were up way early this morning.”
“I couldn’t sleep before I saw you.”
Alex leaned down for a brief kiss. “You’ve seen me now, so let’s get you to bed.” She leaned down and picked up her bag then took Sydney by the hand and led her to the stairs. “And I really need a quick shower.”
Alex pulled Sydney into her arms once more as they entered the master bedroom. “You get ready for bed. I’ll be out of the shower in a few minutes.” Sydney nodded and pulled Alex down for one more kiss before Alex turned to go into the bathroom.
Sydney heard the shower water running as she climbed into bed a few minutes later with every intention of waiting for Alex. She tried to stay awake, but the exhausting tension of the day, and the relief that came with seeing and holding Alex was overwhelming and she drifted to sleep within moments of her head hitting the pillow.
ALEX AWOKE TO faint sunlight beginning to peek through the back window of the master suite. Sydney’s head was pillowed against her shoulder. Alex smiled and tenderly kissed the top of her head then relaxed back onto the pillow to simply enjoy the closeness. Minutes later she felt the head on her shoulder move and looked down into brown eyes gazing back at her.
“Hey, beautiful,” Alex said and smiled down at the still sleepy face.
“Good morning,” Sydney replied, somewhat sheepishly.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry I fell asleep on you last night. That wasn’t my intention.”
“There’s no need to apologize, silly.” Alex brought Sydney’s hand up to her lips and gently kissed her knuckles. “You were exhausted. I was just thankful to be able to see you, to hold you.”
White Roses Calling Page 18
