December 11th - 16:45

Captain Sharon Raydor drove toward the scene as the dusk deepened, wondering what she would see…

"Captain, officer involved shooting, four fatalities, two wounded, Vernon Avenue and 5th Avenue," Detective Sanchez had told her ten minutes ago. "Six units from Pacific Division have cordoned off the area, and are canvassing the area for witnesses."

"Did you inform FID?" Raydor replied. "I'll be there in 15 minutes."

"Yes, ma'am, the FID commander will be here in 15 minutes," Sanchez replied. "I have not done more than visually inspect the scene, and clear it. Paramedics' ETA three minutes."

"Good," Raydor replied. "The rest of our team will be there shortly." She sighed, then added, "Lieutenant Provenza will arrive first – please remind him to not touch anything until FID and I get there."

Sanchez grimaced. "Yes, ma'am." He hadn't liked calling FID, either, but that was LAPD procedure, and Raydor expected him to follow procedure. "I don't like the looks of this, Captain…" His voice almost broke when he said this.

Raydor disconnected, then texted an order to the rest of Major Crimes, "Respond to scene code three," then turned on her lights and siren, her lips pressed tight, but not excessively speeding – she wanted traffic to clear out of her way, not so that she could floor the accelerator, but so she could quickly and safely get to the scene.

Why was Julio struggling to maintain control? Raydor wondered.

By the time Raydor reached the scene, everyone from Major Crimes was present, waiting outside the crime scene tape. Also waiting was the FID commander.

"Captain Raydor? I'm Commander Reed, FID."

"Commander Jim Reed?" Raydor replied as she opened her door and stood to meet him, proffering him her hand. His grip was firm, but not crushing; the look on his face, framed by grey hair in a perfect short haircut, betrayed his concern.

"My last year before retirement, and I get command of FID just in time for this," Reed stated calmly. "I want to talk with you for a moment before we proceed."

"Yes?"

"As you know, whenever there is an officer involved shooting, FID is supposed to have control of the crime scene," Reed began. "However, I would like to have FID collaborate with Major Crimes, where we cooperate to determine what happened here, then we can let the facts determine how we proceed."

"And do so in a way that keeps Chief Taylor from fretting," Raydor nodded. "Shall we begin?"

They ducked under the tape, as did the remainder of Major Crimes. "Your other investigators aren't here yet," Raydor commented.

"All three of FID's sections have active investigations at the moment, so FID has no one to spare here right now," Reed replied. "Besides, I am an experienced investigator, and with Major Crimes here, FID can concentrate on the other situations."

Raydor frowned. "It's been a difficult start for you in FID…"

"Not really, Captain," Reed replied, "you set the bar high at FID while you were there, and that helps. Thank you."

The portable lighting had been set up, and Lieutenant Tao, along with Detective Sykes, was canvassing the pavement for evidence. Inside the crime scene, there was an LAPD marked patrol car that had been riddled with holes blocking 5th Avenue across from the driveway to the Venice Skills Center. There was an officer in uniform in the driver's seat, slumped over the steering wheel. Twenty feet ahead, a red Honda Civic had also been riddled with holes. In the driveway of the Skills Center lay three bodies, all in body armor.

"Detective Sanchez?" Raydor asked." She scanned the scene once more. "There's something quite wrong about this…"

"The two females you saw being taken to the hospital were in the Civic," Sanchez reported. "The paramedics said that they were unconscious, in shock, and were both in critical condition. They did not make any statement."

Terrence continued. "I can't establish the timing of when each person was shot, but it's clear that all this happened no more than 30 minutes ago. All fatalities were killed by gunshots – the officer in the squad by multiple rounds, the two females were also hit by multiple rounds, but the three in the driveway were all killed by one round to the head, apparently execution style." Terrence sighed. "The officer on the ground took several rounds in his body armor, but I don't see any evidence of penetration of the armor." He sighed. "I will let you deal with the investigation, and Dr. Morales is waiting for transport of the bodies now – he presumes this is of the highest priority."

"Thank you, Terrence," Raydor replied. "Get some coffee."

"I don't feel like anything at the moment," Terrence stated.

"Trust me," Reed replied, "even if you don't think you need it, you do, and you'll feel better."

"Ma'am? Look at who the officers are…" Sanchez said. Looking toward the driveway, Raydor and Reed saw the officer in body armor face up, a bullet wound to his forehead. Provenza was kneeling beside the dead officer, trying not to cry. Raydor glanced at Sanchez, to see tears welling in his eyes.

"Why?" Raydor asked.

"It's Detective Ted Romero…"

Raydor looked at Reed. "What am I missing here?" Reed shook his head, and asked, "Who is the other officer?"

"Detective Robert Stromwahl, Auto Theft," Lieutenant Flynn replied. "Sixteen years in the department, good record."

"And Romero?" Raydor was not certain why Sanchez and Provenza were reacting the way that they were.

"Captain," Provenza took a deep breath, "Detective Romero, also from Auto Theft, has twenty-six years' experience with the department, and is a third generation LAPD officer from his family."

"He is the grandson of Detective Sergeant Ben Romero," Sanchez added. At that, Reed's jaw dropped, and Raydor frowned.

"I should have remembered the name," Reed sighed. "He died while in the department."

Raydor shook her head. "I should have, too…do either Romero or Stromwahl have any next of kin?"

Flynn shook his head. "Stromwahl was a confirmed bachelor, and he told me a few years ago that he didn't have any living relatives."

"Romero has a daughter," Sanchez added.

"She is a cadet at the Academy," Provenza added. "In fact, final examinations are tomorrow."

"I'll call the PSTB, to see if her examinations can be deferred," Reed replied.

"Provenza and Sanchez," Raydor added, "please do the notification, and get whatever information you can from her." She scanned the scene once more. "There's something quite wrong about this…"