Fallout
Chapter 25
"Greenlight!" Riddick signals his entire team as Abril opens fire.
Bullets rain down on the cartel attack team from helicopters and sharpshooters stationed on surrounding buildings. The ground-based SWAT members in full tactical gear rush forward. The cartel forces close on the building ahead of them, shooting and tossing grenades.
Inside the structure, the decoys run for a trap door leading to a long-abandoned storage basement. Raul shoots out a window and throws in a bomb, and the structure rocks with the concussion.
Tim takes rapid but exacting aim at the cartel troops leading their charge, spotting Abril among them. As she lowers her rifle to change the magazine, he takes his shot. She falls to the ground.
The Journal of John Nolan
I found out what the secret operation was, pretty much when the rest of the city did. It was on the news. When I went to the division to volunteer to help, I didn't learn much more – at least not for a while. Grey put me on the front desk, fielding inquiries from a lot of citizens either nervous about the mini-war or turned on by the violence. Some were both. Mostly I just reassured them that the LAPD sent their best people to handle the situation. I think I was reassuring myself as much as the line of people in front of me.
As it turned out, the operation mainly went according to plan. Some of the officers ended up in the hospital. They were hit by debris when Abril's lieutenant threw a bomb. But they're all supposed to be all right. As their union rep, I checked on them. I would have done it anyway, but my position gave me an excuse.
One person that made it but probably wishes she didn't is Abril Rojas. The LAPD and DEA are clashing over jurisdiction, but it won't make a difference. She'll go to trial no matter what. And for however many years she survives in prison, be glad the cells don't have mirrors. Bradford shot her in the face. Her lieutenant is in pieces, literally. One of his bombs went off prematurely.
The battle took a big bite out of the cartel but was far from wiping it out. It still has nests throughout California, Mexico, and Guatemala. Someone will take Abril Rojas' place, but neither Lopez nor Harper has any idea who. Hopefully, LA will have some breathing room before the organization reinfests the city.
Grey and four officers arrested Smitty without even pulling their weapons. He came out of his trailer with his hands in the air. I guess he figures he'll receive better treatment at the hands of the U.S. Justice System than he would from the cartel. The evidence against him is solid enough to send him away for a long time. But chances are the cartel would slit his throat – after torturing him.
I can't say that I'm sorry that Smitty being nailed as a mole thoroughly embarrasses Briggs. He promoted Smitty against me and boosted him long before we competed for the rep post. Now he's tied to a loser. That could make my life easier. Briggs will be too busy protecting his own ass to worry about whaling on mine. Smitty's actually claiming that he's a victim of a conspiracy. I don't know if he's pretending to be into all the Q garbage or believes that crap. And I suppose that, in a way, there was a conspiracy. Grey left those papers on his desk to trap a traitor. The trap snapped hard. And I can't say I feel the least bit sorry that Smitty got his tail caught.
Still, it's ironic. As the union rep, he didn't want me to be, I'm supposed to protect him. I'll do what I'm pledged to do, which is more than Smitty would have done for anyone. But even if I insist on the strictest interpretation of union rules, there's no way Smitty can get away with what he's done. Every cop in the city feels betrayed by him, and they're all members of the union.
Now that Smitty's unmasked and the cartel is substantially compromised, Grey is making noises about retiring again. I don't believe he thinks Bradford is ready to be a watch commander yet, but he's working to prepare him.
Strangely enough, Grey seems to be working to prepare me too. He's finally convinced that I'm serious about being a training officer. So he dropped that I'll get there faster if I have a specialty to offer. At first, I had no idea which way to go. My construction skills have come in handy at times, but I didn't see the connection to law-enforcement expertise. Then Lucy reminded me that I'd used those skills to find a way to rescue a hostage. And I passed Jessica's test for talking down a suicide bomber. So I'm thinking about going after hostage negotiation. Unfortunately, Jessica would have been my best mentor, and she's gone not just from me, but from LA. I'll have to find myself another expert or a course or something.
Grey takes the podium in front of roll call. "I believe you all know what occurred at the Fashion Center and the charges being brought against Officer Smitty. However, his absence will be the least of the changes you can expect to encounter in the days ahead. The gaming dens are already shuttered, and the supplies to the cartel's drug dealers are cut off – at least for now. So you'll be changing the pattern and the concentration of your patrols.
"You'll have an increased opportunity to keep an eye on businesses and residential areas. So expect to deal with more minor offenses like shop-lifting. Unfortunately, chances are good that you'll also be encountering more domestic violence, both because you'll have more time in the neighborhood and because addicts whose supplies are cut off can be desperate and violent. So be aware and protect yourselves accordingly.
"Harper, now that Thorsen's reality show appearances are shut down, he'll be with you full time. I'd like to avoid having to extend his training. I don't see an extension working out well for either one of you, and I don't have another training officer available. Chen, I assume Bradford's already informed you that you'll be back serving as his aide on the street.
"Officer Nolan, that leaves you riding solo if you're not called away on union business. I take it you're up to both tasks."
"Yes, Sir," John assures the sergeant.
"Fine. Then all of you get your asses out there and protect this city and yourselves."
John starts to climb behind the wheel of his shop before realizing that the seat is still set for Lucy and he won't fit. After adjusting it, he resets his mirrors then sits staring through the windshield for a moment. It's been a while since he was alone anywhere. Even when he was writing his journal, Bailey was asleep in the next room. And she'll still be off shift until tomorrow. John's not sure if he's more or less comfortable left entirely to his own thoughts. Maybe a little of both. He starts the shop and exits the garage, only getting a block before he has something else to think about. The SUV rocks as the asphalt buckles. Of course, it's LA. What would the city be without an earthquake? The plan for the day just changed.