"What's a noun that's another word for rebel that has a G and an E in it?" Munch asked Fin. They were sitting in an unmarked car outside Simmons' building.
"I can't believe you are still fixated on that crossword puzzle, John!" Fin said, exasperated. "Why are you asking when I already told you what I thought?"
"Because it doesn't fit. It has to be eight letters." Munch said.
Fin sighed, restlessly watching a well-dressed woman enter Simmons' building. Numerous tenants had entered and exited the building but they hadn't seen Simmons yet.
"Alright, where is it? Where's the paper?" Fin glanced around the car.
"It's back on my desk. And I don't want you telling me the answers, that's cheating." Munch said.
"Well my telling you any answer is cheating then!" Fin said.
"No, you are helping me guess." Munch said, maddeningly calm as ever.
About half an hour later, a man matching Simmons' description appeared, walking briskly. "That's him. Let's go!" Fin said, and both Munch and Fin moved quickly to be close to the suspect. Suddenly there was a loud popping noise and the sound of glass breaking as the glass doors of the building shattered.
"Get down!" Fin yelled, reaching uselessly to push his partner to the ground. Munch had already hit the pavement and was rolling for cover behind a parked car.
"I hate you!" There was a woman's cry of rage and more shots.
"This is Det. Munch. Shots fired. We need back-up. Repeat, need back-up and an ambulance to E. 35th and Lexington!"
Simmons was on the sidewalk, groaning. The same well-dressed woman they had seen earlier walked towards him. "Get up! I didn't hit you! I said GET UP!" Fin was on his feet and behind her but she didn't seem to notice. She stood on Simmons' hand with a spiked heel and there was a sickening cracking sound. Just then Fin reached her, grabbing the gun and pinning her arms behind her back.
Blood, bright and quick, began pooling around Simmons' body.
"Oh my God! He's bleeding! He's bleeding!" The woman began wailing as Fin cuffed her and pulled her away from Simmons. Munch grabbed a stack of baby diapers from the trunk, used for their absorbency, and began applying pressure to Simmons where he'd been hit. Despite several shots having been fired, he was lucky to have been shot only once.
Within moments sirens echoed around the tall buildings and the ambulance and back-up patrols were blocking traffic.
"I didn't mean to shoot him. I just wanted to scare him…I just wanted to scare him…" The woman repeated herself over and over, tiny drops of blood on her face and blouse. Fin looked at her driver's license.
"Elaine Elmhurst, you have the right to remain silent…"