Undercover Love - Jay Halstead

Rare.

The Navy Pier is swarmed with people, in spite of the cold day. Making it hard for us to spot our suspect.

We're all wearing coats to hide our bulletproofs and to make it easier to blend into the crowd.

"Let's spread out," I suggest, once I realize that we won't be able to cover enough ground if Kevin, Kim, Jay and I group together in a bundle.

Without a word, we spread out, going between the crowd and searching every single face and body we can find. Keeping our eyes on the lookout for any suspicious behaviour.

"Do we have eyes?" I hear our Sergeant through the two way.

I bring the radio up to my mouth, "Not yet Serge."

My words are barely cold, when I see the familiar blue coat that the Patrol officers discribed to us.

With caution, I make my way towards the man and once I'm sure I can identify him, I pull out my radio, "I've got eyes on the suspect on the east exit, how do I proceed?"

"I'm sending the team your way," Serge answers. "Proceed with caution, do not engage or make your presence known until the team arrives, got that?"

"Copy that," I answer, before shoving my hands into my pockets as I follow Douglass with a safe distance between us.

It's only when he turns around and spots me, that I feel my heartbeat standing still. Our eyes meet and for a moment it's just a complete stare off between the two of us as we're both frozen in place.

And then he runs.

I speed off in his direction, while grabbing my radio again, this time channeling on the citywide, "5021 David, I've been made. I repeat I've been made. Suspect is running on foot towards the east entrance of the Navy Pier. Black jeans, blue coat white sneakers, might be armed. I need all units sat on that exit, I repeat all units on that exit. Plain clothes officer following on foot."

"10-4, we're 2 minutes out," I hear a patrol officer responding, before I shove my radio into my pocket and focus on where Douglass is running.

I loosen my coat in the process, so that my badge and bulletproof is visible to the public. 

I'm fast, so once I'm within hearing shot of Douglass, I call out, "Chicago PD! Stop!"

Of course, he doesn't stop, so I don't either and soon it becomes a full on chase down.

Civilians are pushed and dragged out of the way, some smart enough to move themselves as we run through the crowd. Not one of us daring to slow down.

Douglass throws one of the candy stands down into the pathway where I'm running, but I dodge the mess easily. He pulls a bench in the way and I jump over it effortlessly, without needing to think twice.

It takes me by surprise when Douglass decides to make a sharp right into a small alley between two buildings.

I follow suit, drawing my gun out.

Just as I round the corner, a sharp pain shoots up my thigh, before I'm pushed against the wall.

Instinct kicks in and I try to fight, but suddenly everything feels heavy.

Like my body is made of lead.

Everything slows down within seconds and my brain starts to become foggy.

I look down to my thigh, to see a syringe poking out of it and everything clicks into place.

"It's alright," I hear his voice say. I know his near, yet his voice sounds so far away. "This will be all over soon."