Rescue Her

End of Watch

*Shopping Mall/Crime Scene*

"One of the skull masks shoots at me three times. They come out that exit right there, run down this way, I gave chase." Adam explained as he walked down the street with his two Sergeants.

"And that's when the woman got hit by the car?" Ana guessed, adjusting her mask a bit.

"Yeah, she's on her way to Med right now. No major injuries, but possible concussion." The Officer nodded.

"Patrol sergeant said he ordered you to terminate the chase." Hank pointed out, turning to face the other man completely. "You disobeyed."

"Boss, these guys had just. . . shot an innocent man, terrorized a store. It was brazen as Hell. I wasn't gonna stop." Adam reasoned.

"The man did nothing wrong. It's his call." The male Sergeant retorted.

"No, I know." The Officer murmured.

"So it's a good thing you didn't hear him." Ana smirked.

The younger man just nodded in return.

"All right, you get a look at the offenders?" Hank inquired as they began walking again.

"Both white, tall. I didn't get a look at the driver." Adam listed as two certain Detectives walked over.

"Hey, man, you okay?" Jay wondered.

"Yeah, yeah." The Officer assured, stopping in front of them. "You guys get anything on the car?"

"Stolen, no sign of it yet." Jay shook his head.

"I talked to a few witnesses. No good description of the offenders." Hailey added.

"All right, check PODs and cameras." Hank ordered.

"Yeah, maybe we'll get lucky on facial rec." Ana shrugged.

The two Detectives rushed off just as another voice spoke up. One that was very unfamiliar, at least to the brunette.

"Evening, boys."

"Oh, Detective Ortiz." The older man smiled, shaking his outstretched hand. "Something tells me you're not down here shopping."

Adam turned to face the new arrival as well and the two shifted together to hide Ana's small figure.

"Not tonight, Hank, no." Ortiz chuckled, warmly, finally taking notice of the Officer's presence. "Ruz. It's good to see you, buddy. What, you're not eating? Why you so thin?"

"Sorry, gotta watch my girlish figure, you know?" Adam joked with a grin. "How's Mary doing?"

They shook hands and the Officer would've hugged the Detective if not for the fact that it would put Ana directly in his line of view.

"Better. Chemo and prayers seem to be helping. I'm not sure in which order, but." Ortiz trailed off.

"You give her my best." Adam murmured.

"Yeah." The Detective nodded.

"You working this crew?" Hank wondered.

"Yeah, it's their fourth smash and grab in a month. All Gold Coast. I heard the word 'skulls' on the radio." Ortiz explained. "Two inside, one with a hammer, one with a bag?"

"That's exactly right." Adam nodded.

"So you got any suspects?" Hank inquired.

"Yeah, we think at least one of them is a meth head. Techs found residue on a cash register in a jewelry store on State." The Detective replied.