High Stakes

Chapter 2

Nick's POV

I yawned loudly at my desk while stretching my arms. My partner and I haven't caught a case yet so we're stuck doing some paper work. "I hate paper works."

"Hate it, love it, you gotta complete it." Alexis, my partner commented. "How's your weekend partner?"

"Great! got to spend the whole weekend with the boys." I gently smiled as I remember the memories that we created last weekend.

The trip to the zoo has been exhausting but fun and knowledgeable. However, the best part of my weekend was when Emilia showed me how much she missed me. We were doing it for hours and after about three rounds, I stopped counting. That woman had a lot of stamina and she really drained me.

Unfortunately, after Sunday brunch, she was called in for an emergency surgery. One of the on call doctor had a food poisoning so she took over.

The boys and I stayed in the house and played video games, watched some movies and ate pizza. It was really nice to have some quality time with my family.

"Turn on the news." Captain Michelle Torres yelled as she stepped out from her office. Michelle had been promoted as Captain of the homicide division about five years ago. Unfortunately, her previous partner Lieutenant Paul Simmons have been badly injured on the job three years ago and was forced into disability retirement.

One of our fellow detectives got the remote and turned on the news.

The news was showing an uploaded video on youtube about a shooting in a university. Then on the other part of the screen, they were showing the patrol cars that were gathering at the scene.

"SWAT's on the way. Porter, Gibson, based on the video, there's already a few students that were shot. I need you there now." After giving us our orders, the captain retreated back to her office while Lex and I got our coats and headed towards the school.

My partner and I made it to the command post with little issue. I could see someone giving instructions. "What's the progress?" I asked.

"Patrol's securing the other building, they were being placed in a lock down until we can diffuse the situation. SWAT and some unis were evacuating the impacted building and Captain Harper from the SWAT has already taken over and I'm Lt. David."

"Thank you lieutenant. I'm Detective Nick Porter and this is my partner Detective Alexis Gibson." We shook hands and then waited. We both knew that in this situation, it was best to cooperate. The SWAT team had already began to handle the situation like they were trained to do. The uniformed officers also have their own task and as homicide detectives, my partners and I had nothing else to do but wait.

We saw students in group being escorted out of the building. I looked at the blue print and noted that there were three floors on that particular building and had each six rooms. The hostage were happening in the middle of the second floor.

After a few more minutes of watching, we heard from the radio the status of evacuation. "We're coming in." Captain David said then he and another team member ran towards the building.

"They managed to slip an eye on the vent." Lexi said. We both watched at as second video appeared in the screen. Earlier, they only managed to get an image from the window that was being blocked by the students.

It was clearly obvious that the perp has knowledge about hostage taking. He used his fellow student as a human shield. Then as a contingency, he also made a bomb and strapped it in his chest. Snipping him was now out of option since the bomb could explode the moment he hit the ground.

"What do we know about the perp." I asked. The principal and guidance counselor have been located and were now cooperating with us.

It was the guidance counselor that had been introduced as Mrs. Roberts replied. "He's a smart kid. Straight A student. However, he prefers to keep to himself. A classic loner. There were reports of bullying but nothing had really been done." She replied with a hint of anger in her tone that was clearly directed at the principal. "He was raised by a single mom. No father on his record. That's all I knew."

"Thank you Mrs. Roberts." She nodded then I looked at the principal. "Is there anything you wanted to add Mr. Wilson?"

He cleared his throat and composed himself before answering. "Nothing, I believe Mrs. Roberts already said everything." I raised a brow but then decided to ignore him. At first glance, I already knew that he was a classic. The kind that was willing to hide anything for the sake of school reputation and money.

"First attempt to negotiate failed." Lex said, getting my attention. "The uni's fetching the mother." I nodded and just waited for the next update.

We then watched as Ben, the hostage taker, spoke to a raven haired girl. "He's letting a hostage out." Lt. David said. The girl with her arms raised in surrender slowly walked towards the door. We can't clearly hear what they were talking about. And the moment Ben turned around, the girl hit him at the back of his neck, instantly knocking him unconscious. The girl must have knowledge on human anatomy or martial arts in order to pull that kind of attack. Ben released the gun and before he fell to the ground, the girl caught him. The SWAT then entered and took over.

"Wow! That was..." Lt. David was out of words. Clearly, that girl was both stupid and brave.

"Stupid." I completed. "Not only that she risked her life but she also put her classmate's life in jeopardy."

"Nick... let it go." My partner said. "It ended well. Let's not think of something that didn't happened." I sighed. She's right and being stupid was not against the law. She did saved the day.

"Let's go." Lex and I then walked towards the crime scene followed by several EMTs.

"We have six dead and three wounded." Nick announced. "What a mess."

"It was a classic case of bullying. The gunman finally lost his patience." Lex added.

"Nick and Lexi." I turned around and saw the medical examiner walking towards our crime scene.

"Sandy?" Nick replied."What's the ME doing here? Isn't it pretty straight forward case?"

"Is it bad to see my wife?" Sandy said, looking at Lexi who kissed her in the cheek. "I still need to check on the bodies and CSU needed to gather the bullets. We need to find who placed the gun on the kid's hand.

"You're right." I sighed. It's going to be a long day. And the week had just started.

Emilia's POV

"Ambulance will be here in less than a minute. We have three victims reported to be in critical condition. Be alert and act fast." I instructed my fellow doctors. As the attending in charge of the ER for this week, I need to make sure that everything's in place.

"The first bus's here!" Someone shouted.

"Shawn, Romy! Both of you take care of that." The two residents nodded and went out to get the needed information from the EMTs.

"Doria, Joey! Take the next one." They also nodded and went on their way.

"Lorie, you're with me." She also nodded and went out to anticipate the next ambulance.

"I need all interns to stay focus and help your residents." The young doctors nodded and went on their way. "And someone book three operating rooms. These kids needs our help."

It have only been a few minutes when we got the call regarding the hostage drama and as the nearest trauma center, we have expected the call from the EMT's. We have been notified on their current situation and it was bad. One of the student even coded at twice. I just hope we can save them all.

"Third ambulance's is here." Another intern yelled.

"Let's do this."

A/N: The hostage drama can be read at 'Strangers In The Park' Chapters 11 and 12. While the evacuation can be read at 'Caught In A Bind' Chapters 2 and 3. Thank you.