Red Light

Busy Night Part 4

"ONE!"

High intensity flashlights illuminated the hallway blinding the men. They were all facing the police, guns drawn. They hadn't expected Charlie's little trick with the lights.

There were curses yelled as they tried to shield their eyes. Several started running toward the officers and opened fire.

Charlie took aim and dropped the lead runner. It started a firestorm. Half of the trapped men dropped to avoid the gun fire. The other half fell with lead in them.

With the lights going before them, the police moved up the hallway. In no time, there was a now reduced group of men handcuffed and face down on the floor.

As the traffickers were subdued, Charlie called out, "Anybody hit?" Silence. "Everyone's okay?"

Mutters of "Fine.", "All good, Sarge." and "Yeah." could be heard. Charlie drew in a deep breath and sent a small prayer of thankfulness.

"Clear this shit up." Charlie growled as she ran for the door.

There were dents in it but no holes to yell through. Pounding on the door would seem like the attacker's trying to get in.

She suddenly grinned.

Morse code for 'chocolate' sounded in sharp raps on the door. No response.

Charlie began to feel the stirrings of fear. Had there been someone else in the room?

She repeated the sequence twice more. Each time getting more desperate. She was starting the fourth repetition when she heard a bolt slam back.

With her pistol at the ready, she stood firm. If someone had hurt Xin Di and Zizhen, she was going to pull their arms off and use them as clubs to beat the bastard.

The door cracked open and there was a shout.

"We're cops and we're coming out!"

Charlie didn't budge. When she saw them and knew they weren't being coerced, then she could relax.

The door opened further. Standing in the doorway was Zizhen and Xin Di with their hands raised. Charlie slid past them checking the room and behind the door. She holstered her pistol and grabbed the two of them.

"You scared the hell out of me!" she said in harsh tones as she hugged them as tight as she could.

"Sorry, Charlie. It took us a bit to realize it was Morse code and what it said. As soon as we realized it was 'chocolate', we knew it was you." Xin Di said relieved.

"You're both okay?" she pulled back to look at them.

"Just fine." Zizhen smiled. "We got the kids untied and removed the duct tape gags but they haven't woken. We don't know what they were drugged with."

"Ambulances are on their way. We'll get them taken care of." Charlie told them.

She looked out the door. Police officers were hauling handcuffed prisoners to their feet and taking them out. Others were trying to help the wounded. She had to go back to work.

"Stay here with the kids. If they wake up alone with all this going on, they'll panic." Charlie handed them both a Lindt chocolate and headed back out into the chaos.
-----

As the door quietly clicked shut behind Wu Haoyu, Lan Wangji and Nie Huaisang just looked at each other for a moment.

"I-" Lan Wangji started then stopped.

"Yeah." Nie Huaisang replied. "Me too."

The room sat in lingering silence for a moment.

"We need an arrest warrant immediately and a block on his passport." Lan Wangji said. His voice was stiff, tight.