We pulled over half a mile from the warehouse to wait for GPPD.
“Remember team. We know they have explosives, grenades, high-powered rifles and a hostage. Let’s end this safely.”
We all acknowledged and move closer to descend on the warehouse. As FBI we took the lead and went to the front of the building. We sought cover behind some metal shipping containers. Gates Point Police Department took up positions surrounding the building. They also had snipers on nearby roofs.
Agent Brian Newsome, the FBI hostage negotiator arrived just as we were taking up positions.
“Have you made contact yet?” He asked.
“No.” I answered.
Brian and I had worked together enough that there was no need for pleasantries in these situations.
“Okay, good. Do we know if there is a landline in there?”
“You need to check with Greg in the GPPD tech van over there.” I pointed to where the van was parked further back from the rest of us.
Brian ran over and disappeared inside. A moment later his voice came over our earpieces.
“My name is Brian Newsome; who am I speaking with?”
“Well Brian, my name is not of your damn business.”
“Okay fair enough but can you tell me how Mike Russo is doing?”
“He’s just fine and will stay that way if you and whatever ever pathetic force you rolled up in here with leave and let us do what we came here to do.”
“And what is that?”
“Make our voices heard.”
“Okay, I’m listening.”
“You don’t matter, Brian. You’re a nobody. We want the whole country to hear us.”
“And how is Mike Russo going to help you with that?”
“Well, he has access to files that could be quite useful to our cause. He also has contacts in Washington that need to hear what we have to say.”
“Okay, and what is that you have to say? I know a few people in Washington, myself.”
“I bet you do.”
Silence.
We all listened straining to hear anything. I thought perhaps they had hung up until a gunshot thundered in our ears.
“Ah!” I pulled the earpiece out instinctively.
“Hello? Are you still there?” Brian was frantic on the phone.
“Well, if you’re the man Brian I guess we didn’t need Mr. Russo anymore.”
Logan and I looked at each other. Had they just killed Mike Russo?
Logan whispered to me. “That voice sounds different.”
“You think it is a different person?” I whispered back.
Logan nodded. If there was no hostage there was nothing stopping us from storming the building, except possibly the explosives. Brian hung up the phone.
“We need eyes inside that building, now!” He ordered over the comm system.
Two GPPD officers crept up the side of the building looking for a place to insert the micro camera. Another officer set up the infrared equipment so we could try and determine how many people were in the building.
“What I want to know is if Price/Branigan is in the morgue and Russo is in there dead, who the hell else is in there?” I said into the mic.
“I’m working on it, Boss.” Greg answered. “Okay, the camera is live inside the building. Looks like we have about ten individuals, but we can’t see Russo. They are loading barrels into the back of two vans.”
“That’s got to be the explosives.” Logan said.
“I’m not sure we are going to be able to wait much longer. We can’t let those vans leave here.” I ordered.
“I think we are going to have to move fast because it looks like they are almost finished loading the vans.” Logan said to me in a low tone.
“We go on your orders Craddock.” A voice shouted.
“Okay. Everyone get ready.” I paused and checked my gun and ammo. I looked to make sure everyone was wearing their tactical vest. “Now!”
We rushed the building from all sides. There was an entry door next to the bay and Logan pulled it open and I went in low.
“FBI, don’t move!” Of course, they all moved, they always do. I went to my right down the wall with Logan behind me. Jared and Stephanie down the wall to the left. GPPD was filing in behind us. Two guys ran for the vans.
“Stop the vans!” I yelled into the mic.
Two uniformed officers stormed each van and pulled the drivers out.
The rest of the people fled to the back of the building.
“Their headed for the back!” Logan yelled.
We pursued them knowing uniformed officers would be there to meet them if they got to the rear doors of the building. Seeing that they were trapped a few them turned and began firing. I pushed Logan behind a crate, not that the wooden crates would offer much protection, but it was better than nothing right now. I felt a bullet hit my vest. It knocked me back onto the floor.
Logan stood up and returned fire. The wind was knocked from my chest. I couldn’t breath and it hurt like hell.
“We have an agent down, repeat agent down!” I could hear Logan yelling but I couldn’t speak to tell him I was going to be alright. The next thing I know he had me by the shoulder and was dragging me across the floor. Everything seemed to be in chaos at the moment.
Logan suddenly appeared in my field of vision. “You’re going to be alright, boss. Hang in there.”
I tried to tell him I knew that already and to go get the bad guys, but it hurt to try and talk.
“Stay with me boss,” he encouraged.
I just needed to close my eyes for a minute and catch my breath. Damn this hurt. After a few moments I realized the shooting had stopped so I opened my eyes. Logan and Jared were staring at me.
“Did we get them?” I whispered with what little air I could manage.
“Yep. We got’em. Jared smiled.
I nodded and closed my eyes again.
“Boss? Stay with me the EMTs are here.”
“I don’t need EMT’s.” I said trying to sit up.
“Yes, you do.” One of the EMTs answered and gently pushed my shoulders
