"We have to do this surgically. Both gas and flashbang are out, they could kill her."
"Should I try to get a look inside?" Street suggested quietly.
"Try your luck."
His teammate crept quietly along the wall into the garden. He saw him handling with the flexible camera. Then he came back.
"The angle is shit. I could see that nobody was walking around in there, but nothing below. He's probably in another room."
"We're you able to see Christina?"
"Negative. What shall we do?"
The captain's voice came through their earphones again. "One of the heat signatures is moving away from you to the southeast. The other is about eight meters in front of you, that has to be in the middle of the house."
"Get Mumford closer. He mustn't slip through our fingers. We're going in. Chris, Street, turn left. Luca, Tan, right side. We'll take the front door ", Hondo ordered, then they started.
He gave Deacon cover as he cracked the lock on the front door without a single sound. Just as silently he opened the door on their left, but it was only a closet.
From the next door on the left came Chris and Street, who he waved further into the hallway. He and Deac took over the door on the right that led into what was probably the largest room in the house.
The sight of the room, lit by a small light in one corner, made his heart stop for a moment. There was an empty armchair next to the lamp by the window. The left side was dominated by a wooden bed frame on which Christina Brown lay, only covered with the remains of her clothing. In the dim light he saw bruises on her body and blood on the mattress. Too much blood. Between her head, neck and the arms next to it he recognized a network of cords that were connected to each other and the bed frame. The rest of the room was empty.
"Hostage secured," he whispered into his headset. "We need an ambulance ASAP."
The answer was drowned out in the noise that suddenly came from deeper inside the house. Hondo heard shouts of "LAPD, stop!", There was a clink, then a shot was fired.
In the next moment, Luca reported: "Target secured, code 4".
Hondo turned back to the bed. "Copy that. Get..."
He broke off when he saw Christina make a movement with her left arm. She clenched her fist and moved her hand away from her head. He dived for the bed and grabbed her hands. She let out a whimper, and he noticed that her right arm was broken.
"Christina, don't do that. We are LAPD SWAT. You are safe. We will help you, but you must not move. Can you hear me? Squeeze my hand when you understand. Do not talk."
He felt movement under his hand, she curled her fingers. "Hang in there. I'm letting go of you now so that we can free you."
He had completely blocked out the communication between his team members in his ear. Now he was aware of his surroundings again. Chris dropped the emergency bag from the Black Betty onto the floor next to him, along with a bag of ice packs. From a pocket in her vest, she pulled a rescue blanket, which she spread over Christina Brown's battered body.
Deac had moved to the other side of the bed. "We have to work at the same time. If one of us draws the wrong string... ", he explained with a look at the net around Christina's head.
"Careful," Hondo replied, pulling a cutter out of his pocket. They cut string by string. When the last was cut, he moved Christina's arm carefully. The pain made her open her eyes. He leaned over to her.
"Hello. I'm Hondo. We'll get you out of here."
She moved her lips. He thought he read the word 'breath'.
"Try to breathe easily, even if it is difficult. Don't be alarmed, we'll cool your neck until the ambulance is here."
Chris seemed to read his mind, she held out an activated cool pack, which he carefully placed on the injured woman's neck. Deac had given her an IV and was now on his side.
"I'll splint the arm."
Hondo got up.
"How are we doing, Chris?"
"Tan and Luca have East under control outside. Street guards the entrance. When I got the bag, a police car arrived. Mumford and his boys have signed off for the next call."
"And the ambulance?"
"Nothing yet."
"Hondo?"
He looked at Deacon.
"She lost consciousness. She is still breathing, but her pulse is weakening. She is ... bleeding profusely. Have you seen towels anywhere?"
"None that I would touch. But some were hanging on the line outside. If necessary, I'll pay the neighbors, "Chris replied.
"Get them," Deacon nodded. Chris ran outside.
Hondo picked up the radio. "20-David to command. Where is the ambulance? The situation here is becoming critical."
"We have a problem. A truck crashed close to a petrol station on Melrose. The whole neighborhood stands still, it is cordoned off widely because there is a risk of explosion. Nobody's getting in or out."
Hondo cursed indignantly. "Captain, the woman is going to die. We managed to find her alive ... "
"I am aware of that, but ..."
"Standby," he interrupted when Chris came back with an armful of towels. He took the load from her and handed her piece by piece while Deac gave her instructions. Then she covered the woman again and took the second IV bottle from Deac, which he had meanwhile attached. He saw her worried expression. A noise from outside gave him a sudden inspiration.