The Art Of Death

Ethan replied, his mind racing. "But we don't have a choice. If Cross is making a move tomorrow night, we have to act fast."

Marcus nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "We need backup. We can't handle this alone."

Ethan agreed. "Let's get to the precinct. We'll assemble a team and come up with a plan."

Chapter 8: The Calm Before the Storm

Scene 1: The Precinct

Setting: The precinct, bustling with activity. Officers move about, phones ring, and the air is thick with urgency.

The moment Ethan and Marcus entered the precinct, the weight of their mission settled heavily on their shoulders. They headed straight for the conference room, where a whiteboard filled with case details stood as a testament to their struggles.

"Alright, we need to get everyone in here," Ethan said, his voice steady but urgent. "We're heading to the docks tomorrow night. Cross is planning something big, and we need to be ready."

As officers gathered, Ethan could feel the energy shift. They all understood the stakes—they'd been working the case for years, and the prospect of taking down Cross had everyone on edge.

"Listen up!" Ethan addressed the team, his gaze sweeping over their faces. "We've received intel that Cross is making a major shipment tomorrow night at the docks. We need to be strategic about this. I want a perimeter established, and I want every exit covered. No one gets in or out without us knowing."

Detective Sarah Lawson, a seasoned officer with a sharp intuition, raised her hand. "What about the informant? Do we have a way to verify their information?"

Ethan nodded. "We're working on it. We'll keep an eye on the docks, but we can't let our guard down. Cross has likely already caught wind that we're onto him."

Scene 2: Building the Plan

Setting: The conference room, filled with the low hum of conversations as the team strategizes.

As they laid out their plan, Ethan felt a mixture of determination and apprehension. He reviewed the maps of the docks, pointing out key locations and potential threats.

"Marcus, I want you and Sarah to cover the northeast entrance," Ethan instructed. "I'll take the south side with a couple of our rookies. We'll set up surveillance from there."

"Got it," Marcus replied, nodding. "We'll keep the radio open and stay in touch. If anything goes sideways, we'll call for backup."

The meeting continued, each officer contributing ideas and strategies. Ethan could feel the camaraderie building—a shared sense of purpose that reminded him of the times spent with his father.

Scene 3: A Moment of Reflection

Setting: Ethan's desk, cluttered with case files, photographs, and a framed picture of him and his father.

After the meeting, Ethan sat at his desk, staring at the photo of himself and his father. They stood in front of the precinct, his dad's arm around his shoulder, both of them grinning ear to ear.

"Dad," Ethan whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm going to find your killer."

As he picked up the photo, memories flooded back—his father teaching him about justice, the pride in his voice when Ethan announced his decision to join the force. But the joy was now overshadowed by grief and anger.

"Tomorrow night, I'm not just doing this for me," he murmured. "I'm doing this for you."

Chapter 9: The Night Before