Break Her

Chasing Monsters

*Old Railroad Property by the 22nd Street Bridge: Nighttime*

Hank stood on a high platform, overlooking a CPD operation underway. From the looks of things, they were trying to find a body. He gazed out at the scene before him, not looking away as his best friend appeared to his left.

"Al, it's what we thought." The older man muttered, quietly.

"All right, what are we gonna do?" He inquired, softly.

"Wait it out. Probably get in touch with Lindsay." Hank murmured, thoughtfully. "Give her a head's up."

Even when Alvin turned to look at him, the male Sergeant still did not pry his gaze away from the numerous cops scrambling around on the grass below.

"It's gonna be okay, Hank." The Detective assured. "Nothing's gonna happen to her."

"She did what she had to do." The older man shrugged, finally looking at his best friend even though it was just a quick glance.

*The Next Morning: Pawn Shop*

Hank and Ana walked in to find a CPD photographer taking pictures while Kim and Antonio were standing by the back portion of the building.

"What do we have?" The brunette inquired as the couple walked over.

"DOA is Marco Rivera, he owned the place. Antonio and I talked to him last night. Said a local gang was shaking him down for protection money. We did find one witness." Kim informed, flipping her notepad open. "He said two male offenders, Hispanic, ran out the back, but didn't get a good look at their faces."

"Marco managed to get off a couple of shots, but it doesn't look like he hit anyone." The Detective added.

He went to continue but an African American male came through the door with a young, brunette, woman trailing behind and both were wearing badges around their necks.

Ana, at the sight of these two unfamiliar cops, tensed and moved behind Hank.

"Hey, Joe." The older man greeted, calming his wife's nerves in the process. "I've told you about, Ana."

"Hank." He replied, nodding at the female Sergeant and gesturing to the woman behind him. "Detective Marcella Gomez, national civil police of El Salvador. She's here observing how the CPD homicide does business."

"Pleasure." Hank smiled, shaking her outsretched hand.

"Detective Antonio Dawson. This is my partner, Kim." He introduced, doing the same as the older man.

"Hi." Kim waved.

"So these words?" Hank wondered.

"Kill, terrify, control." Antonio translated, recieving a grunt from the older man in reply.

"The motto for the Salvadoran gang. Sicarios Savios, SS-11." Marcella recalled.

"You've worked some of these cases back home?" Antonio inquired.

"Several." She replied. "And sadly, they all look a lot like this."

"So they like knives, huh?" Hank observed.

"Machetes." Marcella corrected. "Their brand is intimidation, so they come out big. Make the murders as gruesome as possible."

That made everyone glance at the mutilated body on the ground in front of them.

"Anyway, Joe. Antonio was working an extortion angle with this victim." The older man explained. "We'd like to run with the case."

"No problem, just keep us in the loop." He requested.