Judge, Jury, & Executioner

Chapter 29

Maddox pulled alongside the curb, lights flashing. The D.A. hadn't been able to get ahold of McNaughton either. She climbed out of the car and walked around to where Reaves was climbing out.

"What did I say?" Maddox asked.

"Stay near the car?" Reaves asked.

Maddox looked at the building and then at the car.

"Fine, but grab my back up weapon in the glovebox so you'll have something to defend yourself."

Reaves nodded, way to eagerly, and then grabbed onto the handle above the seat. Maddox pulled out her cuffs and cuffed him to the bar.

"What-"

"This is for your own good," Maddox said.

He went to object, but Maddox slammed the door shut. She headed into the office and saw the security guards at the metal detectors. She pulled her badge, gun, and keys and put them on the tray.

"I need to speak with A.D.A McNaughton immediately," Maddox said as she walked through the metal detector.

She had left her watch on and she shrugged at the guards pleading that they'd let her through. The senior security guard pointed at her stuff and let her go. She grabbed it all and practically ran to the elevator.

He'd mentioned his floor was the fifth. She saw a woman enter one of the elevators and she recognized her. Emily Whelan. Whelan locked eyes with Maddox and then the doors closed.

Maddox ran to the stairs and ran as fast as she could. In this moment she was feeling every bit of pain from having a floor dropped on her. After dodging a few secretary's and a janitor, she made it to the fifth floor. She slammed the door open and Whelan stepped out of the elevator at the same time.

Maddox saw McNaughton having lunch with someone. His office door was closed but it was a glass wall in between him and the bullets about to come out of Whelan's gun.

"Get down!" Maddox yelled as she drew her weapon. "NYP-"

Whelan opens fire and Maddox ducked behind a desk. Bullets chipped away at the wood and hit a metal filing cabinet. Maddox waited till Whelan stopped firing and then she peeked.

Whelan shot and nearly hit Maddox's head. Maddox rolled to another desk, dodging bullets as she did. Then she fired off two rounds at Whelan. People were screaming and hiding under their desks, but no casualties yet.

Maddox peeled again and fired off another shot. Whelan ducked down as she did and Maddox saw McNaughton watching in fear behind his desk.

Maddox knew she was going up against a trained killer. Not to mention she was definitely not afraid to kill cops. Maddox felt a sharp pain in her side and she grabbed it. Stupid bruise.

She fired off another shot and ran for Whelan behind a desk. Whelan popped up and Maddox tackled her to the ground. Whelan's gun flew across the room and she grabbed Maddox's. They struggled for the gun before Maddox managed to toss it away.

The ensuing struggle of punching, grabbing, and slamming against desks, only made Maddox's injuries feel worse.

Whelan grabbed Maddox's arm and pulled up behind Maddox. She smacked Maddox against the desk and Maddox closed her eyes as the pain was almost overwhelming.

"The explosion wasn't personal. In fact, there's a part of me that wants to apologize for that. If it wasn't for your partner, you wouldn't be in this position. Speaking of which, tell Reaves it wasn't personal," Whelan said before Maddox heard a gun click.

"Hands where I can see them!" Reaves yelled.

Maddox and Whelan turned in shock to see Reaves holding Maddox's gun.

"How did you-"

"Your alive!" Whelan yelled.

"Let her go," Reaves ordered.

Maddox felt Whelan lessen her grip and Maddox stood up. Maddox jerked her free and took her gun from Reaves. She took her cuffs and cuffed Whelan.

"How did you get out of the cuffs?" Maddox asked.

Reaves held out a cuff key and Maddox frowned. Then she felt the sharp pain in her side. She leaned against the side of a desk and winced.

McNaugton slowly walked out of his office and Maddox could see his hands shaking. He walked to about ten feet to Whelan and then he gulped.

"Was she?" He managed.

"Trying to kill you? Yes," Maddox answered.

He wiped his forehead and then practically collapsed into a chair.

"Is this your first brush with death?" Reaves asked before Maddox elbowed him.

Reaves smirked nervously.

"We'll take her back to the precinct and get her processed. Hopefully she won't try to jail break," Maddox said before grabbing the back of the cuffs and Whelan's shoulder. "Let's go."

Maddox read her her rights, and then she put her in the cruiser. Reaves followed a short step behind and then ran into Maddox.

"Do you mind?" Maddox asked.

"I do," He said before Seeing Maddox's expression, "But you don't care."

"Mhm."

They both climbed into the vehicle and Maddox pulled out her phone to call Drake.

"Drake?"

"We got Whelan. McNaughton's fine. We're bringing her back to the precinct," Maddox said.

She heard clapping and cheering on the other end. Maddox looked at Reaves who had the most childish smile on.

"What?" Maddox asked.

"I'm just thinking about how I'm a hero now," Reaves joked.

"And you've ruined it."

***

Ian followed Mull into the car and crawled into the very back. It was a black SUV with to tinted black windows. Suspicious. But bullet proof.

They were taking him back to the safe house. Where Patrick could never find him. He'd be safe until the trial was over and then he'd be put into witness protection. Where no one would ever be able to find him.

He buckled his seat belt and Mull pulled the SUV out onto the street. Ian leaned back in the seat and relaxed knowing this would soon be over. Either way it was not going to be easy, or fun watching his old friends arrested and sent to jail.

But, I guess that's why they call you a rat. Your life's miserable once you do it.