GUNS and GANGS

Chapter 6: Web of Chaos.

The gunshot pierced the air, shattering the stillness of the room. My heart raced as the scene before me unfolded like a grim tableau – body sprawled on the cold glass rooftop, the metallic scent of blood mingling with the acrid tang of gunpowder.

I look up slowly to see who I least expected. Our eyes locked for a moment and we could both see in each other's eyes, shock and relief.

"Paul is that... was that you?!" I ask in shock.

"Dad, it had to be done. He was about to..." He says, voice trembling and hands shaking.

"You had a gun? You shouldn't have been involved, Paul!" My voice was already straining at the moment.

"I couldn't just stand there! He was aiming right at you. I had to act." I say defensively.

"I get it. But using a gun—it changes things. We'll have to talk about this, figure out how we move forward." I look away from him and analyze the situation.

I drew my sidearm, scanning the surroundings for any signs of danger. Radio chatter buzzed in my ear as I called for backup and forensics, the urgency of the situation sinking in. This was no ordinary heist; it was a well structured one. One which almost cost my life.

"Alright, Paul. Officer Roberts will escort you home." I give him a slight push and then I remember something, someone.

"Wait," I call him back, "what of your brother?" I say with a frown across my face.

He turns back slowly as if dreading the question.

"He...we had a slight argument, Dad. He walked out on me." He says all while looking away from me avoiding eye contact.

I run my hands through my head in utter disappointment and annoyance. I look at him tensely.

"Look at me when talking to me!" I yell furiously. "Where did your brother go?" I ask once again expecting an answer.

"I...I--I don't kn--know, dad." He stutters, hardly looking at me.

I order Officer Roberts to take him home while I head towards the rooftop to check the thug's body. On reaching there, I find just a trail of blood.
It could only mean one thing; He survived. Paul probably shot him at a spot where he would survive.

I could only see trail of blood which means he slid down. I then walk down to the edge and look down to see a big dent on the rooftop of a car.A dent only a human body could make from this distance. Damnit!

I walk back into the room. Amidst  the chaos, my eyes caught a glint of paper clutched in the lifeless hand of the victim. Unfurling it, I discovered a cryptic message – a puzzle piece in a much larger, more complex game.

The gunshot earlier, I realized, was merely the opening move in a high-stakes chess match within the criminal underworld.

Haunted by the implications of that single shot, I delved deeper into the investigation. The city's underbelly revealed its secrets slowly, each revelation pulling me further into a web of corruption, betrayal, and personal vendettas.

The gunshot marked a pivotal moment, thrusting me into a dark narrative where lines blurred between justice and vengeance, and I found myself at the epicenter of a storm that threatened to consume everything I thought I knew.

I begin my walk out of the Bank, realizing my wife was nowhere to be found. I step on something. I take a step back and saw my Wife's phone on the floor, cracked.  I pick it up to see she left a cryptic message for me.

My mind went back to the paper I saw on the table in the room just now. She was taken, kidnapped. I hate my job!

I strap myself in my car and reverse, driving past the back of the Bank as I look through the glass of my car door to see Peter. And not just Peter, but the thug Paul shot.

                                           ***

I knew I should have left sooner but what's the point regretting? I've been caught my an injured thug. How stupid. Of all the ways to die, it's by this disaster of a thing. He was bleeding badly and could pass out at any time. I keep walking and just as I was about to cross to escape, a car pulls up.

A Cop. My Dad. He steps out, gun in his hand. He points it at my captor without removing his gaze from him.

"Hands in the air where I can see 'em." He walks slowly towards us. "You're under arrest."

He cuffs him and puts him in the car. I follow suit.

"We'll make a quick stop at the hospital for this..." He looks at the thug in disgust ," scumbag. You and I have a lot to talk about." He looks at me and then all I could hear was the engine.

                                      ***

"What about my mum, Sir?" I ask just as he drops me off.

Officer Roberts turns to look at me. "I have no idea. But I'm sure your Dad will find her. She'll be safe." He reassures me.

I look at him and slam the door in his face. I didn't bother turning back as I head straight into my abode. I turn on the lights to see two figures;one on the floor bleeding, the other I knew.

"Mom?" I ask in surprise.

She looks up at me and cleans her eyes, hands on the woman's body.

"Paul, I--I don't know what to do. We were able to escape from the gangsters and there wasn't enough time to bring her to the hospital. So I brought her here. She's dying."

I hold myself from puking at the sight of the pool of blood. I run my hands through my hair, utterly confused and frustrated.

"Okay, okay, mum. Here's what we do."

                                              ***

Few minutes later...

We were at the hospital soon enough.  I step out of the room where my mum's co worker was in to see my dad and Pete in the waiting room.

"The fuck are you doing here, Paul? I thought I told you to go home? Didn't Officer Roberts drop you off?" He asks consecutively.

"He did actually. When I got home, I saw mum and her co-worker, Miss Doreen. She was bleeding badly. They were able to escape from the thugs who I think were able to escape from you guys also."

This time i maintain eye contact.

"So, still doesn't explain how you got here." He points out.

"Well..." I drag that part. "As luck would have it, before Officer Roberts drove  back, or at least, before Officer Roberts set out to drive back, he went for a pee. So, I broke into his car and I brought mum here." I say bodly.

"Paul!" He shouts.

"Dad, please keep your voice low." Peter says, placing his hands on his shoulder.

"Do you fucking have any idea how many laws your brother has broken just under how many minutes?" My Dad says in a low voice.

" I've lost count, sir." I say.

I could see Peter holding back his laughter so hard it came out as a snort.

"I'll deal with you two later. Where's your mother?" He asks.

"In the operation room." I reply.

He leaves us as he walks down the hallway. Peter sighs and takes a seat. I remain standing for a while before taking a seat beside him.

"Look, I'm sorry about what I said earlier." We both say at the same time which caused us to stare at each other. We laugh.

"No way I meant that, Coward." Pete says smirking.

" Well this coward saved your dad's life." I retort. 

"Dad told me. That was brave of you to pull that trigger. But there's one thing that got me thinking."

"What's that?" I ask curiously.

"How you didn't shoot yourself,  bullshit" He laughs.

"Asshole." I reply dryly.