✔Vengeful Valentine

Eleven: Adam

New Syracuse county police department was an ancient building, but it withstood the years of wear and tear, corrupt criminals, and shootouts. Every year some ballsy wannabe gangster tried to prove how "brave" they could be by attacking the police head-on. Last year, it was a teenager who held a rookie at gunpoint in the parking lot. Back in 2016, it was a drive-by that did damage to the squad cars and severely injured two officers. This year, I could only imagine what would happen.

My colleagues seemed surprised to see me. Our sergeant wanted me to take an extra few days leave, considering my girlfriend's injuries, but I insisted I needed to get back to work. If not, I'd go mad from sitting at home all day while criminals roamed free. I understood how Everly felt. We couldn't just sit back and do nothing.

I'd just reached my desk when the sergeant's new secretary started looking all over the room like a lost kitten in a new home. She said something to a senior officer, who pointed her toward my direction. Annie was a middle-aged mother who tried her best to be as cheerfully pleasant as possible. Even when some of the guys treated her like shit.

"Adam Lindel?" She adjusted her thick-framed glasses and smoothed out her wrinkled white blouse. "Sorry, I haven't gotten everyone's names down yet. It's nice to meet you. Um, Sergeant Davidson wanted me to tell you to come to his office later, when you're not busy."

"Okay. Thank you, Annie. Tell him I will."

Annie nodded, returning to her desk like an eager schoolkid ready to learn.

I took a seat at my desk and booted up the computer. My space remained organized, just like I'd left it. Only my little jar of candies had been disturbed. Seemed like some of the other officers got the munchies for chocolate too. I smiled when I looked at the framed photograph of Everly and I near my monitor. Her father took the picture of us last year during Thanksgiving.

If only we could go back to that day, before everything went to hell in a hand basket. Everly's folks really liked me, which I was grateful for. Especially her father. I remember that night while Everly and her mom cleaned the dishes in the kitchen, her father pulled me out to the porch for a chat. Told me I had his blessing to marry his daughter someday. Made me promise to keep her safe and happy.

I think he knew how dangerous it was for Everly to stay by Emmett's side in the gang. Mrs. Larson always tried to pretend she didn't know what was going on, but Mr. Larson made no effort to hide his disappointment in Emmett. He wanted Everly to get away from it all. I did too. I just wasn't sure what to do to convince her to leave the Voiceless Rebels. I wouldn't force her to abandon her brother. She had to realize it herself, then I'd help her. I knew how gangs got possessive over their members and made it hard as hell to get out. But I'd be sure none of those fuckers tried to make her stay. Not even Emmett.

"Adam, what the hell are you doing here?" Detective Hallie Lansing came up behind me, resting an arm on the back of my chair. "Shouldn't you be at home with your girlfriend? After everything that happened..."

"I'm here exactly because of that. How do you expect us to rest easy when the bitch who tried to kill Everly is still out there?"

"Good point. Whatcha got there?" She peeked over my shoulder to get a better look at the screen.

"The list we made of gang members and their aliases," I replied. "I'm looking for a White Dragon and a witch, maybe."

Detective Lansing pulled a chair up beside me. "None of those names ring any bells. You know what gang they'd be in?"

"Not a damn clue." I groaned. "Which makes it more fucking frustrating. I need more leads on this."

"Your best bet might be on the streets. Ask around. See if someone put a hit out on Everly," Detective Lansing suggested.