Unexpected 5: The Perfect Daughter

Chapter 3: POW!

Annie was so scared, but what terrified her the most was that her husband was out there acting SWAT. He didn't even had a vest on!  People were still startled, as she could notice the shadows of people running up and down the street outside.

The setting had changed so drastically that the hotel lost its charm. Some guests were still down on the ground, as sirens were heard from afar. Because of the traffic and the mayhem, LAPD had a hard time accessing the area. The dog show was just a block or two away, which meant that the amount of injured could be through the roof. Between the car honks, the chatter of people, the sirens, and all the mayhem happening, Annie wanted to go home!

As she saw her husband leave towards the patio area, probably to check on Hondo and Nichelle, she carefully and gingerly began straightening up. She saw the chaos happening outside, and how scared the people inside were. Panic crawled up her spine when she noticed some people were still down in the floor, maybe injured, and outside people running, others crying for help. Just a mess!

"Hondo?!?" called Deacon, as he carefully went through the sliding doors towards the patio area. He felt the vibration in his pocket and read the message.

SWAT CALL: Shooting at LA Convention Center

Oh my God! he thought as he remembered the dog show was scheduled that day. Could be massive casualties! He looked back to where he had left Annie and noticed she was just getting up. When he turned his head back to face his front, he noticed Hondo coming straight at him, holding on to Nichelle who seemed legitimately scared.

The couple spotted Deacon, and immediately met with him, all three moving quickly to the side of the hall.  

POW! POW!

Two more rounds were heard, this time louder than before. No doubt these were coming from much closer than the first ones.

"Those couldn't have been more than a couple of yards!" Hondo said, as he stood shielding his lady

"May be approaching this building! Got a text of the shooting closeby in the center" Deacon reported

"Damn! This was suppose to be a quiet day off, dawg!" Hondo said annoyed, as they moved along the wall towards Annie. He checked his phone and indeed, he had received the same message. He had missed it before, while he was looking for Nichelle.

Annie saw them and rushed to meet with them. Both men signaled for them to hide behind the column that stood just before the majestic stairs to the big ballroom in the mezzanine. As the ladies hid, the two men looked around, making sure there were no nearby threats.

"Tell me about it! I gotta get outta here. In laws called, my daughter's missing!" Deacon said as he turned his head towards Hondo

Hondo snapped back, turning his whole body towards his partner. "What?" he asked quizzically, a frown adorning his face. He was certainly rattled!

"I don't know what happened. I-"

POW! POW!

An intense scene unfolded outside, where cars began honking out of control. Some drivers were getting out of their cars, running away from the hotel. Many of people were coming from the left, well dressed. They seem to be guests from the ceremony just two blocks away!

"Ladies, go up!" instructed Hondo, turning towards Annie and Nichelle. The shots sounded dangerously close, as the men retrieved to the stairs. Both stood closer, in defensive position. They needed to make sure no one entered the building. With weapons pointing at the entrance of the hotel, they went backwards until they both felt the edge of the first step.

The young man that attended to them in the parking lot rushed in, followed by another two. They came in, screaming for help. Both bellhops, who had been hiding behind the columns at the sides of the big entrance of the hotel, took advantage of the rushing parking attendants and rushed in to the counter area. The staff there was hiding behind the curved counter, some covering their ears with their hands.

"Hondo?" called Deacon, as he looked around, "Those shots. They sounded close."

"Yeah, D. They gettin louder!"  Hondo agreed, breathing hard. He was more concerned about Nichelle and Annie because if the shooter came in, the ladies would be exposed and they didn't know who they were dealing with. Plus, the main floor counted with at least 70 people, between guests and staff. Too many civilians!

They kept looking outside, at the sea of cars still stranded up front and the pedestrians still moving and running. They noticed that everyone kept running away from the hotel, as if escaping something coming left of the boulevard. Some seconds went by, and they started hearing the sirens and LAPD calling from afar.

Hondo's phone vibrated. He took it out and showed Deacon. It read HICKS.

"Yeah, boss?" he answered, putting it on speaker, both men with deep frowns

"Hey, Hondo! I need you to come and round out the team. We got a situation in the LA Center area. Shooting, hostages and abduction." he called startled

"Um... can't really do that sir. I'm actually at Stella Hotel, two blocks from the scene. Me and Deac were having lunch with our ladies. Now, we trapped here." he paused as he looked at Deacon, then continue to watch the entrance. "What's the news?"

"Oh, no! Deacon's with you too?"

"Sir." answered Deacon

"Alright well, LAPD just reported an officer ran away with a convict on their way to Smithson Courthouse. Fella by the name of Harold Laguna, wanted for over three counts of murder, other two for thefts, grand larceny and more, all gang affiliated. Extremely dangerous and with multiple ties in the city." Hicks explained, as both men looked at each other, then back at the ladies.

We gotta get the ladies to safety. If the shooting gets here, we wont have time to get cover for them! Hondo thought as he panicked. He took a look around, but the only available options they had for cover were away from their spot. They would have to risk moving them out in the open. He took a look back at them, then at the flight of stairs.

"Alright, we'll get the ladies to cover. I'll call Luca. He'll round up the others. I'll tell em to bring us vests." Hondo instructed, as he gestured to Deacon the stairs.

"Be on the lockout." Hicks paused, "I just heard the officer is a white female, brown long hair by the name of Naomy Sierra. According to the radio, she was on her way to deliver the prisoner, when she shot her partner, and escaped with Laguna. Witnesses say they were joined by a small army, all with heavy artillery. They must be somewhere in your vicinity. Chopper and backup are on the way, but ground crew will take more time, lanes are packed!" now both men looked back again at their lady companions, terribly concerned.

Hondo hung up and they ran up the stairs towards the lobby area of the mezzanine, away from the balcony overlooking the main floor. They searched the area, hoping to find a safe place to hide them while reinforcements arrived. Deacon tried opening the doors of all three ballrooms, but they were closed shut. They moved quickly to search the small closet space in the back, but that too was closed.

"We gotta get them in a safe place, Hondo!" Deacon urged as they gathered in front of the last set of doors they found. The door read: Control Room. Hondo went for the door handle, but it was locked.

"Damn!" panic was now settling in as the noise from outside grew louder and louder. More and more screaming.

"Police are here!" called Annie as she took a glance over the edge of the balcony. Deacon went to join them, as Hondo continued to search for cover. Nothing was available! He was running out of options. No chairs, no counter, no table, nothing! It was just a long wide hall with doors. Patrol units were flooding the area, as officers came running from left to right. Two young police men stopped at their tracks and approached the entrance of the hotel.

POW! POW! POW!

Annie and Nichelle screamed, as they both bent down in the balcony. Guests watched as the two officers got shot just outside the revolving door of the hotel. Two men dressed in dark blue jumpsuits with long camel packs came  in firing automatic riffles at the ceiling. The sounds of continuous rounds drowned the ears of everyone in the main room. They weren't shooting at anything specifically, as everything was destroyed: bases, furniture, decorations, etc.

The men paused, looking wildly all over the place and turned their attention to the balcony. As they met eye to eye with Deacon and Hondo, who were pointing their guns towards the assailants.

"They're here!" Deacon called, as Hondo turned around to face him, eyes wide opened!