Chapter 7

Finn Balor believed in the legal system and the good it could do for people. He also believed it could and had been used to corrupt individuals to bully, harass, steal, and worse. That's why he had started the legal aid society to help such people. It did a lot of good but he felt there was more. That was why he was running for DA. For years he has been hearing about Detective Riley Morgan for years and even had a file on him. Not everything he heard was bad. A former ADA who now worked with Balor had said. "If you were the victim of the crime Morgan is the one you would want investigating. If you committed crime he is the last guy you want chasing you." "So you are saying Orton didn't' really have a claim?" Morgan asked. Finn nodded as he spoke. "Happen a lot with charities like we run. For every legit claim we have you got at least one where everything was done by the book and someone is hoping for a cash in." "Did you ever have direct contact with him?" Riley asks.

"No that letter you found is a stranded form letter. We send it everyone we turn down. His claim never got near my actual desk. We have people that screen out situations like this. A multiple time convict broke the law again and was arrested. The cops involved did not break rules and did not have a history," Finn says. Mandy watches in silence. The possibility of Orton targeting Finn means he's not just after cops but maybe anyone in the legal process he feels wronged him. "Mr. Balor I have a squad car that will drive you home. And we will keep someone posted," Riley says. "Thank you Detective," Finn says.

In the City

Shawn jumped out of the car and scanned the ware house district he was now at. "That's the ally they found the SUV registered to Orton," Bobby says. "The Patrol units standing by?" Shawn asks. "Yes sir," Bobby tells him. Keith and Dana already have there guns out. Everyone is wearing vests. Shawn tells the patrol units to cover the flanks and has Bobby take point leading the rest of the unit in. The white SUV is parked in front of a dumpster. "Clear," Bobby yells checking a window. "Clear, Johnny says next checking another. Than Keith and Dana. "Clear." "Clear." Shawn is about to order them to start searching the car when he hears "We got movement!" His head whips around to see a door opening. "Hold your fire!" Shawn yells. The door opens slowly and Shawn's heart stopped. Orton had a hostage and not just any hostage. Dana is the one to say it. "That Riley's sister."

Orton tosses a phone into the ally before pulling Liv back and closing the door. The phone starts to ring. "Go get it," Shawn tells Johnny. Johnny moves quickly and retrieves the phone. "Sargent Michaels." "If you make a move she dies. I want Riley Moran here with in the next hour and we can talk than," Orton says taunting.

Twenty five minutes later

The second the car Riley was in arrived Shawn hopped in. He needed to keep Riley from flying off the handle and doing something that could get himself and Liv killed. He knows Riley well enough he full is prepaid to cut off some "I'm going in," way of thinking. That is why isn't so shocking when he hears. "This is all my fault. I kicked her out last night," Riley says. "Riley calm down. You had no idea this would happen. The important thing is keeping her safe now," Shawn says. "I should have just..." "Shut up! This guy wants to talk to you. That means you gotta have a clear head. So you need to shut off big brother mode," Shawn tells him firmly. Riley nods.

By now a command post has been set up. SWAT had arrived but Shawn was able to maintain control. Bobby was giving a briefing. "The windows are painted over. Building is solid brick and steal so thermo and infrared is a no go. Suspect is Randy Orton he's the guy that has been killing cops the last few days. He has one hostage..." Riley starts to tune out. He feels a hand on his back and sees it's Johnny. Riley's heart jumps when the burner phone rings. Shawn hands it to him. "This is Detective Morgan," Riley says. "I thought you would be taller," Orton taunts. "Let me talk to my sister," Riley says. "Riley?" Liv voice says. "Kiddo its going to be okay I promise. I am going to get you out of there," Riley promises. "Ah that is sweat," Orton says taunting Riley again. "Alright Orton what do you want?" Riley asks trying to stay calm. "Its real simple your life for hers. You come in here she goes free. You have my word," Orton says before disconnecting the call.

"There is not a chance in hell you are going in there," Bobby says. "Bobby is right the second you walk in there Orton kills you," Keith says. "He wants something. He has a reason for doing this. If he wanted to kill me just uses Liv to draw me some place alone. Instead he make he makes it a production. What have we learned this guy plans everything," Riley points out thinking on the fly. "He has a point. Since this started Orton has been planning. But he's never made it personal. So far its appeared his targets of convince. Why pick Riley? And we still don't know how he got Riley's file," Johnny argues. "Its still to dangerous. This guy might be looking to die. Before that he wants to kill another cop with as much of a spectral as possible," Roode yells. "The real problem is we are flying blind," Shawn says. "Let me wear a wire," Riley says.

Meanwhile at the same time Mandy had arrived at the scene because Mike still insisted she over see things to make sure they could get a case in court at some point. Sonya was already at the scene. "So how bad is this?" Mandy asks her friend."We know he has Liv Morgan we don't know anything else. It is a nightmare," Sonya says. "What is SWAT going to do?" Mandy asks. "Right now thing. Intelligence is running things," Sonya says as she and Mandy watch Riley talking to Shawn. "Its my sister I am going in!" They hear Morgan yell. "They can't let him," Mandy says walking toward the command post. "Bobby your objections are noted but I don't think we have any good options," Shawn says. Mandy is about to object when the phone rings. "Put it on speaker," Shawn says. "Orton?" Riley asks. "Boy you really are a detective aren't you," Orton taunts. "Stay calm," Shawn mouths at Riley.

"Orton I need your work I go in and Liv goes free," Riley says. "You have my word. Liv will be free if you come in and hang out with me. But no gun or wires or camera or phones," Orton warns. "Send Liv out," Riley says. "What do you think I'm stupid? You come in first and than she goes free. But hey you can talk to her... talk to your brother," Orton yells and the sound of slap if heard. "OUCH!" Liv yells. "Liv?" Riley yells. "Riley don't..." "Enough. Clock is ticking Riley. You have five minutes," Orton says before the line goes dead again. "I'm going," Riley says. Mandy is again about to object when she sees is Johnny slip something into Morgan's back pocket.

Shawn walks up to her. "Ms. Rose don't bother objecting. I am in charge and my mind is made up." Mandy doesn't say anything. She is a ADA at most she can try to talk to soupier of Michaels to over rule him. Her power wouldn't start until Orton was under arrest. Roode keeps objecting but in the end tells Riley to be careful. Dana has a gotten a megaphone she hands to Riley. "Randy Orton this Detective Riley Morgan I'm coming in," Riley says. The door to the warehouse opens. Orton appears in the doorway a gun pressed to Liv's head another hand covering her mouth. "Don't try anything or she is dead," Orton warns. Riley starts to walk towards the door. "We are handing him a second hostage," Roode says."Riley is right this guy wants something. This doesn't fit his MO at all. What has changed?" Shawn replies. Riley is getting closer and closer. "Hands up Morgan," Orton demands. Riley sticks hands up. Orton starts to fall back with Liv as Riley gets closer to the door.

Riley enters. "Close the door and put that bar in place make sure it stays shut," Orton orders. Riley does as he's told. "Up against the wall," Orton says. "Just keep calm man," Riley says struggling to take his own advice as he can see a clear red mark on Liv's face a bruise forming on her eye and that damn gun still pressed to her head. "That's the problem with you cops you can't stand not being in charge. You pin a badge on someone you create a dictator," Orton rants. Riley stays silent. "You think I'm crazy! Well it was the cops that drove me to it. Any little mistake I made they were all over me. Over and over again they were here to ruin my life. And they do it to so many others," Orton yells forcing Liv to face him. "And he's one of the worst. Quite a few writes ups in your file. Liv you ever wonder what ever happened to your ex Enzo or his buddy Cass?" Randy taunts.

Liv is just silent she is so scared. "Well did he?" Randy yells throwing her to the floor. "Come on man I'm in here let her go," Riley pleads. "Not until she knows. Go on tell her. You know how they wound up in jail? He set them up," Orton rants. "How do you know all this?" Riley asks seeing an opening. "Oh I have friends. Friends that can't stand people like you. People who want to see pay for your sins," Orton taunts. "You are nuts," Liv says. "Shut up!" Randy yells pointing the gun at her again. "NO NO NO! Randy don't. Let her go please," Riley says moving away from the wall. "GET BACK!" Orton yells turning to point the gun at Riley. Riley backs up. "Not used to be on this end? How many conffession you pistol whip out of people?" Orton asks before striking Riley in face. He points the gun at Liv. "Say good bye to you big brother little girl," Orton says to live

KABOOM

Liv was suddenly blinded and couldn't hear anything but ringing in her ears. She had no idea what is going on. It wasn't a gun shot. Trying to clear her eyes Liv could sense movement. Suddenly someone grabbed her. She was to shaken to fight back. Next thing she knew she was outside "Liv… just breath….return shortly…." She could start to hear someone say. "RILEY?" She yelled out of fear. Her ears were still ringing. Finally things start clear to her shock she sees Riley shoving a cuffed Orton into a squad car. Once he is done he turns back to her come comes up to her. "How?" She asks. "Smuggled a flash bang in. Once it went off SWAT breached. You okay?" He asks. "I'll live," She says starting to shake the Adeline wearing off. "You need to be checked out okay," Riley says softly she just nods.

Seventy Second Prentice

Pleas of you should get looked at by a doctor or you sister would have fallen on dead ears had they made them. There wasn't even time. Something more was going on here. Orton was in a cage in the garage area the unit used. "Dana, Keith do what ever it takes to jam up that DA. Mickie and Bobby watch the door. Johnny make sure the higher ups aren't waiting around up stairs," Shawn says the second they arrive. Riley is silent and makes it a point to not even look at Orton. Shawn unlocked the cage as he and Riley stepping in. Orton is cuffed to a bench but he looks about to say something when to his utter shock Riley strikes him with an elbow shot. There was risk of Orton getting cut or bruised. But people would look at the hands never the elbows.

"Go a head pig beat me I won't talk," Orton says. "Randy Randy Randy since the day I got out of the academy I have seen people like you. Guys who keep messing up and blaming the police. Its not the police that caused you to steal from people, or beat your girlfriend or all the other crap you have done," Shawn says. "And you guys were there to make sure I always got locked up," Orton says. "Quit breaking the law," Shawn says. "Look Randy its already over. Your truck and hotel room had the guns we can link to the murders. Even the idiot DA can't botch this one," Riley says. "Than why are talking to me now?" Orton asks. "You know things you shouldn't. Someone gave you the info to kill those cops and try to kill Riley," Shawn says. "You want to know who gave me my information," Orton says looking at Riley. "No I would rather just shoot you in the face and claim you reached for my gun," Riley says with a cold detached tone that actually makes Orton nervous. Looking at him he believes Morgan would do it.

"Orton tell us who helped you. And we can talk to the DA," Shawn says. "Some idiot," Orton says starting to laugh. Riley grabs Orton to look at him. "Let's make something clear. You aren't as tough as you think you are. I can already see it in your eyes you don't want to die..." Before can finish Dana burst through the door. "Rose is on her way we can't stall her… blame Keith he looked toward the garage door," She says. Riley lets go of Orton. "I know calm down," Riley says to Shawn. "What is going on here? This man should in an interrogation room," Mandy says seeing Orton in the cage. "Miscommunication the officers thought Orton was being transferred right to lock up," Shawn claims. "And why is he here?" Mandy asks looking at Riley. "I'm the lead Detective and arresting officer," Riley says through gritted teeth. "It's inappropriate given what happened with your sister and the accused," Mandy says.

"Keith take Mr. Orton up to room one," Shawn says. "Yes sir," Keith says. "Give Liv my best," Orton says to Riley. Riley is seething with anger. Shawn goes with Keith leaving Riley and Mandy behind. "I am only going to tell you this once. Stay away from Randy Orton. Your personal grudges are not going to derail this case," Mandy warns Riley. "You do get something is going on here beyond Orton. The fact he had confidential information. We need to figure out what is going on," Riley says. "You have been on the job to long Detective if you are starting to see people out to get you everywhere," Mandy says getting in his face.