Lost in Plain Sight

42

Brigitte POV

The night air was crisp, the city illuminated by a scattering of streetlights casting long shadows along the pavement. There were fewer people walking down the street now, and those who went from their cars to their homes scanned their surroundings for danger. Restaurants closed their doors early, disappointed by the dwindling number of customers. Fear had taken hold of the city, fueled by the rising tide of violence.

Tineke and I cruised through the less savory parts of town, our eyes constantly scanning for any sign of trouble. Every person, every passing car, drew our scrutiny. Any hint of danger immediately captured our attention. The silence in the car was broken by the sharp ring of my phone.

"We've received an anonymous tip. Possible gang activity at the old nursing home. Try to identify the gangs involved. Approach with caution," said a strong, authoritative voice.

Tineke and I exchanged a glance before she turned right, slowly approaching the street of the old nursing home. As we drew closer, we saw a group of men standing together against the building, just outside the reach of the streetlights. Tineke parked the car on the empty sidewalk. From our current position, we had a better view of the men dealing with passersby, but there was no sign of an impending attack.

"I don't see anything out of the ordinary. Maybe it's a false alarm," I said.

"Stay sharp," Tineke replied. "Anything can happen."

Minutes stretched into an uneasy half-hour. We were about to call it in when Tineke's breath caught. "Brigitte, look. Over there."

Emerging from the shadows, Koen and Eric were walking down the street, their expressions a mix of confusion and determination.

"What the hell? When did they get released, and why are they here?" I muttered, my heart pounding.

We barely had time to process our shock when Tineke pointed to the other end of the street. Two black cars were turning in, their headlights off, moving like predators in the night.

"Brigitte, hold tight!" Tineke's expression hardened. I could see it in her eyes—she was already formulating a plan. There was no time to waste. We had to act fast, or there'd be a bloodbath on our hands.

Without hesitation, Tineke swung our patrol car around and aimed straight for the line of parked vehicles. Anxiety jolted through me, knowing what she was about to do. We were racing against time, and our next move could make all the difference.

"Hold on!" Tineke shouted over the roar of the engine. I braced myself, gripping the edge of my seat as the patrol car surged forward. The impact came with a deafening crash. The front of our car slammed into the row of parked cars, and the world outside exploded into chaos.

Metal crunched, and glass flew as our car plowed through the parked vehicles. I could hear the screech of tires and the violent thud of our impact. The scene outside was a blur of spinning wheels and twisted metal as the parked cars were pushed around, creating an impromptu barricade.

The black cars, caught completely off guard, skidded to a stop. One of them tried to reverse, its tires spinning uselessly on the debris. The other veered off, its driver frantically searching for another way out. I could see the panic in their movements, the desperation to avoid the blockade we'd just created.

Through the swirling dust and debris, I spotted Koen and Eric. They had ducked behind a nearby vehicle, their faces pale and wide-eyed. For a moment, they seemed frozen, but at least they were out of the immediate line of fire. The group of men had already run off, scared of being busted.

The two black cars managed to turn around and drive off. I took in what had just happened, the airbag resting on my legs as I felt blood slowly pouring from my nose.