Page 51 of Operation: Sharp Angel

“Dahlia’s safe. I say we wait him out until Jackson and the others get here.”

“I say we let him tire himself out completely. He’s gotta crash sometime. I don’t want to tangle with gargantuan if I don’t have to,” Tessman replied. “He’s gotta be near seven feet.”

Madison chuckled as Elijah ‘Kegger’ Robinson pulled up in his black BMW. He hurried over to the two of them, his weapon also drawn. “Whoa, that’s one angry mountain. What’s the plan?”

“We wait for Jackson to arrive,” Madison said. “Control, any word on Louisa?”

“Yes, Louisa is en route, still fifteen minutes out.”

Tessman checked his watch. “Another fifteen minutes to see if he winds down isn’t bad.”

The big man at the door suddenly turned around and focused his attention on the three of them. Without warning, he bolted right towards them.

Tessman sprinted to intercept him. Tessman went low and plowed into him, bringing his feet out from underneath him. He crashed to the sidewalk. Tessman jumped on his back, his knee into the guy’s shoulder. The man shook him off as though he was a tiny kitten and he stood back up, his gaze fixed on Madison and Kegger.

“Try not to kill him,” Madison said. “Freeze! Hands in the air!” she yelled to him, not expecting a reaction.

He didn’t slow down, didn’t comply with Madison’s orders. Robinson pulled a taser from his jacket pocket and discharged it a split second before he plowed into them. Both Madison and Robinson stepped aside and let his convulsing body faceplant where they’d been standing. Pain-filled screams, that sounded like they were coming from an animal and not a human being, came from his downed body.

“So glad you answered the alert,” Tessman said to Robinson as he pulled himself to his feet. Thankfully, he’d landed on the lawn and not the concrete when gargantuan had shaken him off.

Robinson stepped in and disconnected the taser barbs as Tessman straddled the man and pulled his hands behind his back to secure them in zip ties. In the distance, approachingquickly, sirens could be heard. The local LEOs would join them within a few minutes. They all holstered their weapons.

“Okay boys, let’s have our badges ready for the LEOs,” Madison said, pulling hers from her back pocket.

“Control, let Dahlia know we have the situation handled and the local LEOs will arrive shortly. Dahlia can join us outside of the front door. And you can have both Jax and Louisa stand down.”

“Roger that, Xena,” Yvette replied.

“We’ll check the back out too before we leave,” Tessman said. “Just to be thorough.” He stepped towards the front door, ready to greet Dahlia.

Madison nodded as the police cruiser pulled up, its red and blue lights casting a neon glow on her face.

Tessman reached the front door as Dahlia cracked it open. She was dressed in a tank top and boy shorts, which he assumed were her pajamas. Her appearance reminded him that he always thought Michael was a lucky man to have her in his bed. She was a beautiful woman with a toned body and all the right curves in the right places, which were clearly displayed by what little she wore, making her incredibly sexy. And she had been a bona fide Indian princess, which added to the allure. As he thought this, his thoughts suddenly went to Becca. She wasn’t sexy in the same way, but there was something about Becca that held his interest and made him want her. “Hey, are you okay?”

“I am. Thank you for coming,” Dahlia said, her voice sounding tense.

Her fiancé, Michael, was a friend of Tessman’s. He’d spent time inside the condo, mostly watching sports on television and having a few brews with the couple, so he knew Dahlia well enough. He wrapped his arms around her. “It’s okay. Looks like a random dude, higher than a kite. But we’ll check it all outbefore we go. You did the right thing hitting the panic code. Where’s your gun?”

“I stashed it in the bedroom since the local cops are here. I had it on me while he was banging on the door. I would have pulled the trigger,” she vowed.

“Good girl,” Tessman said. “Michael will be proud of you.” He released his embrace. “Why don’t you go throw a hoodie on or something? The police will need to interview you.”

“Yes,” she agreed. She went back inside, leaving him standing at the open door into the home. She returned moments later, pulling an LSU hooded sweatshirt over her head.

The local LEOs took statements and transported the still rambling, screaming, and cursing man away. He was so high he couldn’t even give his name or answer any questions coherently. There were very few cars parked in the area, as most residents of the building parked in their garages. The police would run the tags on the few cars on the street to see if one belonged to him, but that wasn’t the concern of the Shepherd Security personnel.

Tessman and Robinson checked out the immediate area, including the alleyway that ran behind the rear-facing windows to be sure all was secure and no one else lingered. It was clear as expected.

“You two can go. I’m going to go back in with Dahlia until we reach Michael,” Madison said. “You can come to my place for a sleepover with Hahna and me if you’d like,” she said to Dahlia. “She’d love it if her Aunt Dahlia spent the night at our house.”

“Aw, thanks. I love that little girl, but I’m fine,” Dahlia said. “And the police have him now. You guys can all go. I’ll get a hold of Michael soon, I’m sure. They’re probably just wrapping up for the day at the install. It is two hours earlier there.”

“Have a good night,” Tessman said, giving her a brief squeeze. “Hit the panic code again or call Ops if anything else happens. I’ll be at HQ doing nothing all night.”

“Thank you, Carter,” she said.

As he drove back to the Shepherd Security building, Tessman thought about this attraction he felt to Becca Elliot. She was unlike any other woman he’d ever been attracted to. Maybe because he had a different relationship with her, a professional relationship. He wondered if he’d find her as appealing if he’d met her in a bar. Given that she’d probably smack down any advances he’d make, probably not. He chuckled at this thought. No, Miss Rebecca Elliot was not a pick up in a bar, one-night stand kind of woman. She was probably a no sex on the first date type, too. Yes, she was a relationship type of woman, something his life wouldn’t support, not that he wanted one.

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