FriscoDreams20

**This chapter contains some violent scenes.

Casey moved silently among the crates and boxes that were stored on the dock.   Backup was on the way; the sirens could be heard in the distance but she couldn’t wait for them. Stopping for a moment, she slipped off the heels that she was wearing and placed them on top of a wooden crate. Quietly, she jogged over to a dumpster and hid in the shadows while watching the exchange taking place between Ramone Bastille and Santieago Cordero.

“And just what do you think you’re doing?” The limousine driver had discovered her and was now holding a .357 Magnum to her temple.

“L..Looking for the ladies room?” She stammered. “I must have made a wrong turn, huh?”

“Nice try.” The driver told her as he took her gun and gave her a shove. “Move!” Taking a chance, Casey rammed an elbow into his midsection and tried to run but he caught her arm. Turning to face him, she reached up and raked her fingernails across the left side of his face.   He let go of her and held his face while screaming obscenities. Casey began to back away from him but a backhanded blow sent her crumbling to the ground. “You’re gonna pay for that” he told her as he pulled a leather strap from his coat pocket.

Casey rolled onto her stomach, covered her head with her hands and awaited the worst. The man held the strap poised to strike but suddenly groaned and fell to his knees.   “DIDN’T YOUR MOTHER TEACH YOU ANY MANNERS? YOU DON’T TREAT A LADY LIKE THAT!” An angry Harvey had knocked the man out with the butt of his pistol.

Stephanie helped Casey to her feet while Harvey and Antwon dragged the unconscious man to the dumpster and handcuffed him to it.   Harvey then took Casey aside to talk with her.

“Are you alright? Did he hurt you?”

Her shoulder was hurting from the fall but she kept her silence. “No, I’m fine.”

“Good. Now will you please tell me why you are here? Didn’t you hear ANYTHING that I said to you? I specifically told you to STAY IN THE CAR!” Harvey’s mood had changed from sympathetic to angry in less than a minute.

“Harvey, the wire broke.” Casey pulled the wire from the front of her dress and held it up for inspection. “What was I suppose to do? Send up smoke signals?”

Harvey’s anger relented and his tone of voice softened. “No, but you could have at least waited for backup. You knew that we were on our way.”

“Ok, I screwed up.” She threw up her hands in defeat as she took a seat on a wooden crate. “Oh look, the Calvary’s here,” She said with a touch of sarcasm. They watched as the police cars converged on the truck and it’s surprised occupants. This whole situation was almost over and she breathed a sigh of relief. “Harvey, I’m sorry. For everything.”

Harvey kneeled down beside her and reached for her hand. “Honey, I didn’t…”

The sound of gunfire stopped him in mid sentence. He quickly pulled Casey behind the crate while Antwon and Stephanie sought cover behind the dumpster.

“I guess this means that a peaceful surrender is out of the question,” Harvey surmised.

“You think?” Casey ducked her head as a bullet clipped the top of the crate.   “Harvey, we need to get out of here. This crate can’t hold up much longer.”

“We’ll have to make a run for it. Get in front of me and keep your head down.” He took a moment to reload his pistol and then reached for Casey’s hand. “Ready?” She acknowledged him with a nod and squeezed his hand. “Ok, here we go. ANTWON, COVER US.”

**

The lights and sirens from the police cruisers shattered the darkness of the night as they surrounded the vehicles and the small group of men gathered on the docks. The officers quickly exited their cars and took up position behind the vehicles. With weapons aimed at the suspects, they awaited the signal to fire.

Officer Ronnie handed Nash the bullhorn to address the group. “SFPD. I want to see weapons on the ground and hands in the air…NOW!”   The group held fast and refused to acquiesce to the Captain’s order. “I’d think long and hard about a confrontation with my men, Bastille. I can promise you this…you will not win.”

Ramone Bastille was stunned. Someone had betrayed him but who? “Cassandra.” He realized that she had tricked him into revealing information about the meeting.   Lusting after a woman had cost him both his money and his freedom. Glaring at Nash, he shouted orders to his men, “It’s over. Give it up.” Tossing the gun on the ground, he raised his hands in surrender.

“No, this is not how it will end.” Santieago Cordero snatched a gun from the hands of a gang member and pointed it towards Bastille. “I will not go back to prison,” he said as he pulled the trigger and shot Bastille before turning the gun on himself and taking his own life.

Mario Baptiste and his gang watched in horror as the death scene unfolded. During the confusion, someone began firing at the police officers and the gang members scattered. The officers gave chase and slowly began bringing in one suspect after another. Mario Baptiste broke free and ran towards one of the limousines but was taken down by Joe Dominguez before he could reach the vehicle. “Not this time, Mario.” Joe read him his rights and then led the man to a waiting cruiser.

Nash smiled as he watched his partner bringing in one of the major suspects. “Good work, Bubba. I haven’t seen you run like that in years.”   Joe handed Mario over to a uniformed cop and walked back to the Cuda patting his tummy. “Yep…I’ve been working out.”

“I can see that.” Nash replied. “By the way, does Inger know about that sexy young trainer who’s helping you work out?”

“Don’t go there, Nashman” Joe said casting his partner a disappointed look.

*

“Where is this guy?” Antwon yelled as the bullets pinged off of the metal dumpster.   Harvey scanned the area and located the gunman hiding behind the boxes near the edge of the docks. “THERE HE IS. Twon, you come with me. Ladies, stay put until we get back and Stephanie, if she moves, shoot her.”

“HARVEY!”

“I’m serious, Cassandra. Don’t even THINK about moving from this spot.” He and Antwon formed a plan to catch the gunman and then prepared to go after him. Before leaving, he pointed at Casey and told her, “Stay put.”

The women began returning fire in the direction of the gunmen while the men made their way to the cargo area.   After seeing that the men were safe, Casey leaned against the dumpster and closed her eyes. “I couldn’t go anywhere even if I wanted to.” She allowed her body to slide down until she was sitting on the ground.

“Casey, what’s wrong,” Stephanie asked as she holstered the pistol and kneeled beside her friend.

“A bad headache and I’m dizzy.” Casey’s voice was weak when she answered.

Stephanie looked around for someone who could help her get Casey to a car and to the hospital right away. Dr. Roberts had given orders to contact her immediately if Casey experienced any headaches or dizziness. Seeing the yellow Cuda in the distance, Stephanie helped Casey to stand, put an arm around her waist for support and helped her to walk. “Come’on partner, help is just a short walk away.”

The limo driver regained consciousness and had managed to free himself by breaking the dumpster’s rusted handle. Spying Casey’s forgotten pistol lying on the ground, he picked it up and fired a shot in their direction.   The two startled women tried to run but tripped and fell to the ground. Stephanie reached for her pistol but it was too late. The man was standing in front of her with the pistol aimed at them. “Say goodnight, ladies.”   Several gunshots and a woman’s scream were heard. Then, silence.

*

Harvey and Antwon continued to chase the lone gunman along the docks. The kid had long since exhausted his supply of ammunition but refused to surrender. When the officers cornered the boy, he still refused to give up without a fight. Harvey and Twon were amused by his attempt to intimidate them with Karate moves.   They allowed him his fun but when he ran at them, they joined hands and clotheslined the boy. He was laying flat on his back when Harvey walked up to him. Leaning down, he asked, “Are you ready to give up NOW, Bruce Lee?”

“Let’s go” Twon told the boy as he pulled him to his feet and handcuffed him.   They returned to the designated meeting area but the women were not there.

“I told them not to move from this spot. Did you hear me tell them to stay put?” Harvey ranted.

Antwon looked around the grounds and found something that caught his eye. Slipping on a rubber glove, he bent down and touched his fingers to the dark stain. “HARVEY, GET OVER HERE. I FOUND SOMETHING.”

Hearing the urgency in his partner’s voice, Harvey ran over and kneeled beside him. “What is it?”

Antwon held his hand out. “Blood.”