Broken

Chapter 59: Under siege

The shrill sound of police sirens echoed in the distance, getting louder by the second. Fatima stood motionless beside Denzel's lifeless body, her breathing steady despite the weight of the moment. The warehouse, once quiet except for the occasional hum of the wind, was now filled with tension. Jose, standing next to her, shifted uneasily, his eyes darting between the approaching lights outside and the unconscious form of Cortez on the floor.

Fatima's gaze was fixed on her father's face—lifeless, bloody, and forever stilled. She felt numb. She had expected something—perhaps rage, perhaps grief—but there was nothing, just an emptiness that felt too deep to fill.

"They're here," Jose muttered, glancing at her for direction.

"I know," she replied, her voice calm, detached. There was no point in running. She had done nothing wrong—at least not this time.

The sound of car doors slamming shut filled the air, and moments later, a group of uniformed officers stormed into the warehouse, their guns drawn. The lead officer, a burly man with a stern expression and an air of authority, strode forward, his eyes scanning the scene before him—Denzel's body, the unconscious Cortez, and Fatima standing tall, unbothered, in the middle of it all.

"Fatima Wilson," the officer said, his voice dripping with contempt. "What the hell did you do now?" His eyes fell on Denzel's body, recognition flickering in his gaze. "Denzel Garcia is dead, and my officer is down?"

Fatima didn't respond. She knew better than to try to explain herself in a situation like this. There was no point in defending herself to someone who had already decided she was guilty.

The officer's expression darkened when she didn't speak. He nodded toward his team, his voice sharp as he gave the order. "Arrest her."

Two officers stepped forward, their handcuffs ready. Before they could reach her, Jose moved, blocking their path. "You can't arrest her," he said, his voice firm. "Ms. Wilson didn't do anything wrong."

The lead officer narrowed his eyes at Jose, his jaw tightening. "Stand down," he growled. "Or I'll have you arrested too."

Jose didn't move. His loyalty to Fatima was unwavering, and he wouldn't let her be taken in for something she didn't do. "I can't allow you to detain her," he said, his voice steady.

"Arrest him too!" the officer barked, and the two officers stepped toward Jose.

Fatima rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. "Are you serious?" she asked, her tone flat. "If I were guilty, I would've run. I stayed because all I did was defend myself and my babies." Her hand briefly touched her stomach as she spoke, her gaze locked on the lead officer.

The officer looked skeptical, but before he could say anything, Fatima added, "I have a recording."

That gave him pause. "What?"

"In my bag. On my phone," she said, her voice calm but insistent. "It's all there. Everything that happened."

The officer hesitated, then turned to one of his men. "Get her bag. Check the phone."

One of the younger officers stepped forward, carefully retrieving the bag from Fatima. He rummaged through it before pulling out Fatima's phone. His fingers hovered over the screen as he glanced at his superior for confirmation.

"Play it," the lead officer ordered.

The officer pressed a button, and the sound of the recording filled the warehouse. It started with Fatima's voice, soft and pained: "Daddy..."

The officers exchanged glances as they continued listening.

"I told you I'd catch you red-handed, Garcia," Cortez's voice echoed through the speakers, filled with smug satisfaction. The officers' faces began to shift, curiosity and confusion replacing their initial hostility.