Page 28 of Riding Danger

“Malcolm.”

“Hi, Malcolm.” I considered staying stern but decided perhaps I needed a different approach. “Is there a reason you’re turning my day into a crapfest?”

“Uh— I need to get the money.”

I tried to see what was happening inside the bookshop. “Really, you need money and decided to rob a bookstore?” Something didn’t add up. “Seriously, there are at least five businesses more lucrative than the bookstore on this street alone.”

“He—it doesn’t matter why I chose this store. This is where I am.”

That slip was all the clue I needed. I switched channels so I could talk to dispatch in private. “Dispatch, please advise our back up there is a possible second shooter in the vicinity and send the bookshop landline number to my phone.”

Whatever was going on in that store was more than we were aware of.

My phone dinged and I saw the number for the bookshop had been sent to me. Joel gave me a nod as he scanned the area before getting into position. The phone rang a few times before going dead.

I turned my radio to loud once more. “Malcolm, I'm going to need you to help me out here.”

I pressed redial and heard the phone ring inside the store. After two rings Malcolm picked up the phone. “He-hello.”

“Malcom who is making you do this.”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Has he threatened you?” Through the window, Malcolm nodded at me, but since my call was being recorded, I needed his words. “I need the words, Malcolm.”

“He’s got my sis?—”

Everything happened so fast. The glass to the Bookshop store front shattered before I registered the gunshot. Joel aimed his weapon in the direction of the shot. Before he could get his shot off, his body jerked and he fell to the ground.

“Joel.” I was torn between attending to my partner and making sure no one else got hurt.

I spotted someone running across a rooftop on the other side of the street. I took aim at the same time he aimed at me. Our shots went off together, him falling backward, thankfully not falling off the roof. But I also took a hit to my dominant arm.

Sirens blared in the distance as I made it back over to the car.

“Bravo 14.” I pressed the dispatch channel on my radio. “Where the fuck is back up. Officer down, gunshot to an unprotected area. Assailant down, status unknown.” I kept my hand over Joel’s wound. It wasn’t like I had a choice. If I left him to check on Malcolm, he would bleed out. And while I could appreciate the position the kid found himself in, Joel had to be my priority.

Less than a minute later, back up had arrived, followed closely by two ambulances.

As the paramedic headed to Joel, he lifted his chin to me as he spoke to his partner. “Check her arm. I’ll stabilize Joel.”

The other two paramedics headed into the bookstore once our back up had declared it clear. Minutes later, Ms. Sherry was escorted out with a blanket around her back along with the two customers who were in the shop at the time of the attack. Not long after that both Malcolm and Joel were being wheeled into their respective ambulances.

The paramedic looked at me. “We’ve sent another bus over to that building. You can come with your partner and get that wound checked out.”

“It's just a graze.” But I would ride with Joel.

“A graze that needs stitches.” The paramedic smiled at me. “Don’t fight me on this. I can get you benched and you know it.”

I rolled my eyes and followed Joel into the ambulance. She was right, she was married to my captain and if she mentioned I needed stitches and refused, Cap would insist I get checked out for infection and all sorts of things. The trouble really wasn’t worth it. Even if I thought she over-played her hand sometimes.

The drive to the hospital was quick. I was taken to a procedure room and didn’t need to wait too long before I was seen. The doctor was busy stitching up my arm when Maggie and Tiffany stormed in.

The doctor looked at them. “Wait outside. I will call you when she is done.”

They glared at me and then at the doctor before turning around and stepping out. I smiled at the doc. She was about the same age as Doc Evans. “Please take your time, Doc. The longer I can put off their fussing, the better.”

The doctor smiled as she worked. First cleaning the wound then prepping it. She pulled out her suture kit as she dabbed the numbing agent on my arm.

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