Burning Flames ¦ Evan Buckley

Chapter 20 - See me

Halloween was much the same as every other. Buck thought a ghost had called 911, which of course, El kept taking the piss out of him for and teasing him at every given opportunity much like she always did. It ended on an emotional note, one that El could not bear witness too. Seeing animals in pain and being put down only broke El, there was something so different about animals than people, it was almost as if she was desensitised to it all, which in this job, you kind of had to be.

The team was thrown back into reality by a woman standing above the freeway with a sign, causing traffic to halt and back up for miles. El, Eddie and Buck were sent to the overpass to get her back to solid ground and safety. Buck got himself harnessed up first, beating the others to it, it always being a small competition as to who got to harness up and do the somewhat more exciting part of their day to day job.

"Hell no, I won't come down until Norman sees me and don't you try to force me down." The woman called from up above. She was clearly distraught by this Norman character.

"Nobody's gonna force you to do anything. We're just gonna talk. What's your name?" Sergeant Grant asked through the loud speaker.

"Lola!"

"Lola, my name's Athena. This is my friend, Michael. What's the problem?" Athena said, shaking her head in disbelief of the entire situation.

"The problem? The problem is that after thirty years of marriage, I can't even get thirty seconds of attention from my husband! It's like I'm invisible but I'm not invisible! I am here dammit!" Lola screamed, expressing her anger and frustration at her husband by opening her robe to reveal her bare body. "See me Norman? See me now?!"

"Woah" Both El and Eddie spoke together as they witnessed Lola getting into her birthday suit. After what felt like an agonising, not even 5 minutes, Norman had been found; with it broadcasting on every major news outlet and social media it was no surprise.

"Lola, good news! We found your man. He's on his way." Athena told the woman, hoping that was enough to bring her down from the overpass but it was to no avail.

"I won't come down until he sees me!"

"Ma'am , you're the most famous face in this city right now. There ain't exactly a way to miss you." Mikey replied into the loud speaker, looking up at the woman.

"I don't care."

Bobby carefully lifted his radio to his mouth, "Okay move Buck into position."

El stood beside Buck, just in case he needed any support while Eddie held the rope.

"Okay Chim." He ordered, Chim knowing exactly what to do as he and a team of firefighters dragged the inflatable under where the woman was standing as Buck lowered down to her.

Lola immediately noticed and was put into a panic, "No, no, no, no, no! What are you doing?" I- I told you, I won't."

"It's just there for your safety." Athena reassured her.

"I told you!" She pulled out a hidden firearm and let off a few shots into the inflatable, popping it before anyone had the chance to get the jump on her. The trio up top shielded themselves the best they could however Buck was now face to face with the women defenceless.

All of the officers immediately pulled their weapons, aside from Athena and Mikey who tried to remain calm and collected in order to maintain the trust with Lola. Mikey threw his hands up towards the other officers that were now hidden behind their cars with their guns aimed directly at the distraught woman. "Hold your fire! Hold your fire!"