Unexpected 5: The Perfect Daughter

Chapter 5: 20 David down

"20 David down! I repeat, 20 DAVID DOWN!" whispered Deacon on his cellphone. He panicked! He wasn't sure if he should turn back. He saw Hondo went backward when the bullet hit him, but wasn't sure where. He knew it was around his neck or shoulder, but no clue. The problem was that if the assailant saw him, he would get shot too. By then how would they get out or help the others?

Hondo opened his eyes as the pain went straight to his neck. He couldn't hear well, just a faint pitch. At least he could perceive screams from afar, as he figured the other guests had been scared. He hoped for dear life that Nichelle and Annie had not moved from their hiding place. He slowly snapped back to reality, as he began getting on his feet after the impact had pushed him back into an arrangement of flowers, which stood in front the corner of the panel. He quickly glanced to the east side of the hotel and motioned Deacon to continue his course. The older officer was doing zig zags trying to return, probably to check on him.

"Ahhh" he winced, as he moved his right hand up to his left shoulder. Everything stung...even his neck was stiff. He touched it gingerly and noticed the blood on his fingers. "Oh no!" he said to himself

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?" yelled the shooter just 10 feet away, approaching fast, gun pointed at him

Hondo straightened up as best as he could, shivering in pain. He remembered how he sent Deacon off to get the bomber, so his job was to keep the shooter busy. Still struggling, he stood up, wobbly. He tried lifting both arms up, but to no avail. The pain was too much!

"I'm a police officer. I just wanna talk, man!" He said as the assailant approached quickly

"Ohhhh" the man said as he moved the automatic riffle up his shoulder, pointing up. Hondo was relieved because at least he stopped pointing it at him and the guests. "A police officer, huh?" he said with a devilish grin in his face

He stopped walking and grabbed the weapon again. "You're gonna get us outta here!" He pointed the gun at Hondo, who was still struggling to put both arms up. The man motioned for him to come closer, through the closest walk way.

From the corner of his eye, Hondo noticed Deacon's shadow, as he was just a couple of feet from the bomber. He saw Deacon working with his phone, as he watched the bomber closer, hiding behind a fake wall to the east side of the entrance. He was well positioned, as the villain couldn't even spot him, but he had a perfect view of what was going on in the table.

"Alright" Hondo said, still holding back the pain, "Take me. Let them go. It's me you want!" he said trying to convince the madman with a weapon

"SHUT UP!" the man yelled, "YOU DON'T GET TO MAKE THE RULES!"

"Ok, ok." Hondo said calmly as he approached the man

"Cory, you ready man? What's taking so long?" he asked over his shoulders. If he turns around he can spot Deacon!

"Hey!" Hondo called, as the man turned his attention back at him. "Just tell me what you want."

"Now, why would I do that?" the man responded annoyed

"Coz I'm a sergeant, and I can get you what you want faster. Police will get here and they'll start shooting. You can use me as a shield. Listen to me, you don't want get carried out in a body bag, man" the man stared at him for a couple of minutes, studying him, as Hondo approached the group of guests tied in the floor.

Hondo's shoulder was killing him, but he had to stay sharp. The man motioned for him to sit in the floor. "What I want is for you to SHUT THE HELL UP!" he finished yelling loudly, pointing at Hondo's head.

He was slowly bending down when he felt the tip of the weapon on his back. "SIT! HURRY UP!" hurried the gunman. He pressed the gun to the officer's injured shoulder, and he in response just sobbed. "Ahhh"