"Attention all units. An anonymous 9-1-1 call received of a hostage situation. Gunman holding a group of children hostage. Connection was bad, but we know it is at a park. All available officers, please respond. Report to nearest city park, and call out an 'all clear' to receive further instructions."
Elisa grabbed at her radio. "Detective Maza reporting. I am 10-86, but will be heading to retrieve my vehicle now. I am in the area of Central Park, south end."
"Proceed with caution," the dispatcher responded. "A command center has already been established in that area, corner of Center and 59th."
The voices of more responding officers were calling in rapid succession, and Elisa had to turn the radio down to talk to the Gargoyles.
"I have to go," Elisa said, firmly.
"You may need our help," Goliath said, concerned.
"All of the officers may need our help." Angela pointed out. "But I thought we were supposed to stay here…"
"We have to help," Goliath said, grimly. "We must protect our home."
"Lex, can you tune the communicators to the police channels?" Brooklyn asked.
"Sure can," Lexington said with a smug smile. "We can hear them, but they can't hear us."
"Good," Brooklyn said. "Everyone, spread out. Keep an ear open to the radios. If there's nothing going on where you are, move on to the next place. We meet back here before dawn, one way or the other."
"But the children," Angela said, still concerned over the halfling threat.
"I'll stay," Came the monotoned voice of Owen Burnett. "If anything should happen, we are well equipt here to take care of the building, and anyone inside."
"And I'm here," Skyler said softly. "They'll be cared for."
Elisa nodded. If the halflings were able to get past the security system, they would still have the Xanatos' and Puck to deal with.
And they wouldn't be expecting of their own to be there. Skyler had already proven that she was willing to place herself between the kids and danger.
"Alright," Elisa nodded. "But we all meet back here before dawn. I don't want any of you caught out in the open."
The gargoyles voiced their agreement, even as they headed for the door to the courtyard. Elisa broke away, heading for the elevators.
Within minutes, thanks to the express function on the Xanatos Enterprise elevators, Elisa was back on street level and heading to the parking structure that held her car.
Elisa started her car and flipped on the lights and sirens. The closer she got to Central Park, the more her sirens blended in to the sound and rhythm of countless more police vehicles swarming the area.
With a squealing of rubber tires on pavement, Elisa slammed her car into park. In situations like this, where there was a large area to cover, there was always a "command center" set up to help organize officers and aid in search efforts. They would have a map of the area, and assign people according to the grid on the map.
There was a small group of officers at the entrance to the park on 59th and Center, and Elisa headed that way figuring that to be the head officer in charge. There was on large male officer, radio in hand, and a map spread out over the hood of his squad car.
"Detective Maza, from the 23rd precinct," Elisa said on arrival. "Where do you need me?"
"Grab a vest," The man said, gesturing to a small stack of bullet proof vests in his backseat. "I need someone at the Heckscher Playground," The man said, not looking up. He took a marker out of his pocket and wrote her name on the area. "Call me on channel 12 if you find anything, or when it's cleared."
"Got it," Elisa said, tuning her radio to that station. She efficiently grabbed the offered vest, and expertly strapped it onto her torso over her red coat. The reflective silver lettering identifying her as NYPD.
She took off at a run, ignoring the roadways and the jogging paths. The good thing about being on foot, was that she could cut across the open, grassy areas. A few minutes later, she approached the playground and slowed to a more cautious walk.
The Heckscher Playground was the oldest and largest playground in Central Park. It was almost three acres of playground equipment and play structures that would be easy enough to hide in.
Elisa crouched by one of the largest structures and listened. If someone was there, with a lot of children, there would be noise of some sort.
After a moment, there was the sound of rustling to her left. Elisa drew her weapon, careful to keep it held to her side and out of sight.
Another officer clad in a similar buttler proof vest, approached quietly and slowly.
Elisa nodded her acknowledgement, and motioned him over.
In whispered tones and hand gestures, they both communicated that their next moves. Together, they entered the large open playground. She took the right side, while he took the left. Together, they made a sweep through the area, careful to inspect every structure and nook around the expansive area.
Three more officers had joined them, and even then, it took them longer than Elisa had hoped to take.
"Newberry to base," The officer who had originally joined Elisa spoke into his radio. "Heckscher Playground area is clear."
"10-4," the gravelly voice of the base commanding officer replied. "Central Park is clear. Please report back to base, and report with your individual stations as to what to do next."
There was an almost audible sigh of relief that emanated from the group Elisa was in, and a moment later, they were hoofing it back to the base commanding officer.
"What do you think the chances are that this is real?" One of the younger officers asked out loud. It didn't really seem pointed to anyone, so Elisa didn't feel the need to respond.
"It could be some kid out for a few laughs," another officer said. "I mean, they hit all the buzz words that would scatter the cops. Shooter, kids and an unknown location."
"Yeah," Another officer said, "If someone wanted to go on a crime spree, that's the only call they'd have to make, and police would scatter to the four corners."
Elisa hesitated and almost toppled over a misstep. It was true. The call had thrown out everything that made sure that all available officers would be scattered all over the island.
Not only that, but it had scattered the Gargoyles as well.
"Oh, shit," Elisa swore out loud. Elisa dug out the clan's communicator, and slammed it home into her ear. Not caring who heard, but out of pure habit, Elisa grabbed her cell phone, placing it to her ear so that people would think she was talking to someone on the other end of it.
"Goliath," Elisa called out, "Please be there."
Elisa broke off from the group of other officers, heading in a straight line for her car.
"Elisa," Goliath's voice rang in her ear. "What is wrong? Have you found the one responsible?"
"No," Elisa shouted. "I think it was a false report. I think it was the Halflings, and they were trying to get you all out of the castle. I am heading back there now…"
Suddenly, there was an explosion that sounded in the distance, and Elisa swore that she felt the resulting shockwave in her chest.
Looking up, Elisa could only stare in horror as she found the cloud of smoke billowing from the familiar Xanatos Enterprises building.
Elisa stood in shock, the phone dropping from her suddenly numb fingers.