𝓛𝓮𝓸𝓷 𝓚𝓮𝓷𝓷𝓮𝓭𝔂| ɪᴍᴀɢɪɴᴇꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ 4

Officer Down

I glance at Leon as he stops the car outside the old Raccoon Mill, it's a run down place that looks ready to collapse at any second, but this is where our leads on the latest murder have pointed to. I don't usually get nervous, but something about this place gives me the creeps. "Are you sure we shouldn't wait for backup?" I ask Leon, who's already undoing his seatbelt and checking his gun. He hesitates, grabbing the door handle but not making any moves to actually get out. 

"We'd have to wait at least an hour, I don't think our guy's gonna sit and hang around for that long." Leon murmurs, he takes my hand, giving it a squeeze before getting out of the car. I take a breath and follow his lead, still tingling from his touch. We've been partners for almost a year now, but things have never gone anywhere. We've been on a few dates but neither of us have been brave enough to label thing attraction between us. Leon and I walk into the dark mill, avoiding rusted equipment and nails scattered over the floor. When I spot a phone on the floor I know that our suspect is here, but this place is huge, we'd have to either be quick or in two places at the same time to catch him. 

"We should split up, if you see something radio me, I don't think sound travels in this place, it's too clogged with walls and doors." I mumble. Leon shakes his head, reaching out for my arm as his desperate eyes search mine. 

"I don't want to lose you." He says, but then he clears his throat and fixes his slip up. "I mean, we don't know the layout of this place, it could take a few minutes for us to find each other again." I think it through, but we're wasting time. I pull away from him, giving him a reassuring smile as I begin my ascent upstairs. 

"Don't worry, it's one guy, and we know he's unconfident and weak." I say, stating facts rather than insults. We've spent countless hours psychoanalysing this guy over coffee and doughnuts, I'm sure this plan will work. Leon's gaze lingers on me until I'm out of sight. My footsteps seem muffled as I lightly search the building, checking every corner and cranny, at first I begin to question our leads until a sudden movement catches my eye. I'm quick to turn, barely quick enough though as a rusted pipe swings for my head, I dodge it, throwing out a kick as the suspect goes down with a high pitched cry. I point my gun at him, narrowing my eyes at his disgusting man who's murdered too many innocents. 

"Don't move! You have the right to remain silent, anything you-" I begin, but all of a sudden the suspect grabs something shiny from his pocket. I barely register the mini revolver until he's aiming at me and closing his eyes. I panic, shooting him, but not quick enough. His bullet finds its mark, pain explodes in my side as I stagger backwards, hitting the wall as my vision blurs. I slump, breathing quick as my ribs sting worse than any pain I've ever known. I hold my side, trying to stop the blood as it trickles through my fingers, but then I remember that I've got Leon. I feel my body tilt as my consciousness begins to slip, I haven't got time to wait as I release my wound and grab my radio, praying it's still working. 

I lick my lips, clicking the button...

Leon's POV: 

I keep my gun raised as I look under every surface and in all the spots a killer could hide. I sigh, debating our lead and if we were right. A muffled loud bang startles me, I spin and aim behind me, but there's nothing there. A murder of crows squawk as they fly from the roof, clearly threatened by something. I frown, this mill is falling apart by the second, but maybe something else scared them. 

'Officer...d-down. I repeat, officer down. Raccoon M-Mill, west side. Upstairs.' 

I grab my radio, feet already running in the direction of the stairs as I race to meet back with my partner and more. If something's happened to her I'll never forgive myself, we've been working together for almost a year now, I could've easily done my job without the assistance but being with her made it so much more worth it. Being a cop was one dream come true, but meeting someone who understood and made me happy was another, I'd work a thousand shifts if it meant spending time with her. My heart pounds as I reach the second floor, I frown, assessing the disrupted dust and clues.