Chapter 32
Wood Oak City - 2 days later.
"Great to see you walking about again bro!" Adam smiles.
"Yeah! If I'm lucky, I might even be discharged in time for Christmas!"
"How about that?" Adam smiles.
Sammy slowly walks towards him in the hospital ward aided by crutches. He appears to be much chirpier than yesterday and in less pain.
"How's my niece doing today?" He queries, glancing through the window of the next room where Cherry is sleeping.
"Well, the last operation yesterday was a success. But with one broken leg, a broken shoulder and several fractured vertebrae and bones, she's gonna need a lot of rehabilitation over the next six months."
"You know I'll be here to help as soon as I move back in bro".
"Thanks" Adam pats him on the shoulder. "I'm taking a couple of months off of work for the two of you. They owe me over six years of annual leave anyway. Estel keeps insisting though that she's gonna come and stay round a few nights a week… what do you think?" Adam raises his eyebrows.
"Well if she's cooking and you ain't, I don't see why not!" Sammy jokes.
"Nah, we'll be living on take outs for the next six months. Estel is great at three things… her job, the gym and the other I ain't gonna say, but it ain't cooking!... Adam laughs. Hold up!"
"What's wrong?" Sammy frowns.
"Stay here with Cherry, please…" He quickly cuts their conversation short, pacing down to the other end of the ward after recognising one of the police officers.
"What the fuck is going on here?" Adam flashes his badge in the air at several other security guards.
A chubby bald man in a grey suit angrily steps forward. "We're here to take Mr and Ms Y into custody. They've received their urgent treatment here at the hospital and are good to go".
"Not so fast! My team and I were the ones who caught those motherfuckers, we'll take the liberty in making the arrest!" Adam insists.
"What a team of vigilantes? Make yourself useful and keep an eye on your daughter…." he laughs.
"Hey!!!" Adam throws his shades to one side then grabs the man by the collar.
"Get your hands off of me before I press charges!" He threatens.
"What the hell is going on here?!!!!" Estel storms through the corridor. "Adam, let him go…" she quietly says, placing her hand on his shoulder. Reluctantly, he decides to push the agent to one side.
"The twins have nothing to do with the SIF, you acted as a vigilante!"
"Says, who?" Estel snaps.
"The city mayor…"
Estel's annoyed expression instantly turns to one of amusement. "Well then you should know that our new mayor elect has just appointed me as the Head of Security for the state of Wood Oak." She slaps a document in his hand. As he unravels the piece of paper, he is full of shock. "So that technically makes me your new boss, gentlemen." She places her hands on her hips.
"I see…"
Without hesitation, Estel turns to Adam. "Go and arrest those two fuckers then!"
"With pleasure…" Adam smirks at the agent before he smoothly places his shades back on.
"Oh, and one more thing. There's a medal waiting back at my office for you. Our Chief has awarded you with the highest honor as a serving officer" she proudly smiles.
"Well that's something," he grins with surprise.
Half an hour later and the rest of the team who are well enough stand by the entrance of the hospital, patiently waiting for Adam and the twins to appear. As soon as the automatic doors open, paparazzi and journalists take every photo opportunity they can. The crowd are surprised to see the twins bruised, exhausted and dazed by the flashing lights. Adam holds each one by the arm whilst he escorts them handcuffed out of the building.
"Make the most of it. This is the last time you'll ever be outside in public again" he remarks.
As the fresh air hits their faces, the first person to lock eyes with Mr Y is Axel. He stands there intimidatingly staring with his arms folded, accompanied by Shiva, Max and Floyd by his left side.
Both twins are then lowered into separate cars with Estel taking control of the front security vehicle whilst Adam sits in the convoy at the end. The crowds of the city boo and whistle at the ex Syndicate leaders. They have been gathering for hours since the morning to witness this moment.
"I took a walk today on Oak Tree Avenue. Usually on Christmas Eve, you can't get past the sidewalk because it's so busy. But it was dead. Only a couple of homeless people sitting out in the cold. Whatever these twins have done to the people here, it sure as hell was crazy…" Max explains.
The crowds cheer when they both are driven off. The look in Mr and Ms Y's eyes holds no remorse, only regret that they got caught. These are the faces of guilty murderers who act stone cold, showing no fear or shame at what lies ahead for them.
Banners including "Justice for Skytrain" and "the drug war is over" are displayed high up in the air.
"The judges recon they'll get the death penalty or life in prisonment" Floyd observes, replying to Max.
"Are you still thinking about what happened to Steffan?" Shiva turns to Axel.
"He's dead now along with the old and new syndicate. We did what we set out to do, I'm sure things will go back to normal soon…."
The group are suddenly shocked when they spot the crowd of people charging towards them. "That's them!!" One lady holding a banner shouts.
"What the hell is this?" Max feels alarmed. He paces back with caution as the thought of civilians remaining under mind control crosses his mind.
One man wearing glasses and his wife wearing a dark blue coat and hat appear to be the leaders at the front of the crowd.
"We er…. We just wanted to thank the four of you. My wife and I run a shelter and food bank in the Red District. We know about all of the work you and the others have done in helping this city over the years. Two days ago, I had never seen things get so bad…." the man pauses, adjusting his glasses. His wife intervenes as her husband looks down to the ground feeling traumatised.
"Many people died on these streets and many are still frightened now to go outside. But thanks to your bravery, you have given us back our freedom."
"We were only doing what was right and what we could…" Axel shrugs modestly.
Another lady in the crowd speaks out.
"My kids are both too young to remember the war with the Lima Nations over a decade ago. You and your team saved us back then too when the cops were shooting at us. And now you've saved us again. This city owes you everything!"
"Yeaaaahhh!!!!!!" The crowds chant in agreement.
"I own a liquor store on 74th street! Anytime you boys want a free drink, you're always welcome!" Another man shouts.
"I might take you up on that offer," Max grins.
Another man steps forward, showing his gratitude speaking Mandarin. He gives Shiva a warm smile and a nod, handing him a box of lucky gifts for the home. "For you, your family and friends".
"Thank you," Shiva smiles, humbled by his generosity. The gifts and goodwill continue for a further 15 minutes.
"You guys and the rest of your team are heroes. You saved my family and that's priceless! This is my card, get in contact if you and your friends are ever thinking about moving. Free from mortgage of course." A man in a navy blue suit gives Floyd a set of business cards representing his real estate company.
Once he has left the queue of gift bearers, Floyd turns to Max with excitement. "Don't you realise that's Al Mason?! One of the city's biggest investors! He has hundreds of apartments…. Damn! I could be a homeowner soon!" He grins.
Axel is the most reluctant out of the four of them to accept any gifts. So far he has uncomfortably smiled back, grateful for the generosity of the public whilst letting the others take the boxes, cards, flowers along with anything else the people have brought along. All of it is wonderful but knowing that he has helped to save their freedom means so much more.
A lady in her 50s is next to step forward. She hands Axel a medium-sized box bearing a ribbon.
"He'l take that, thanks" Axel smiles back, elbowing Max standing next to him.
"No, this is for you…" She insists. "I heard you got a baby on the way, I didn't know if it was a boy or a girl so these are all neutral, see?" The first thing she hands over to him is a little cream-coloured hat. "I don't know what to say, this is really thoughtful,…… thank you," he quietly replies, trying his best to hide his emotions.
"It's the least I could do. We run a baby store just a couple of blocks away from here. Take all the supplies you need, they grow up so fast!" She smiles. "How is mom and baby holding up, if you don't mind me asking?"
Axel sighs, "if I'm honest, we've seen better days. Yesterday I sat and watched my 10 year old give blood for a transfusion, just so they could live..."
"I'm so sorry," she reaches up to hug him.
"Thank you for the gifts. This is gonna cheer Blaze and Leon up for sure. We're having a girl."
She gives him a warm smile back. "Congratulations! All of us in this city are proud of you. Take it from this old lady, the best thing you can do now is enjoy your life and spend it with them".
Her last words remind Axel that a large weight has now been lifted off his shoulders.
"You're still here Hunter?" Estel charges into her office holding two take out bags.
"Yeah, I'm still working on that evidence. This trial is only days away after Christmas, plus Axel and Max are still back at the hospital so Cherry and Sammy are ok…"
For the first time ever, Estel shocks him by diverting their conversation from law enforcement to something else.
"Chinese or Burgers?" She flashes a smile, holding up the two take out bags.
"Ow, I know how much you love cooking! I think after the last few days we've had, we deserve both!" He laughs.
"That reminds me…" She replies, hastily dropping the bags on the desk. She then unlocks one of the draws, pulling out a large blue box. "What's that?" Adam raises his eyebrows with curiosity.
"I'm supposed to present this to you in a week's time…"
"I hope you're not proposing to me…" he joked.
"Shut up Hunter!" Estel laughs, playfully hitting his arm. She carefully opens the box, revealing a silver bravery medal.
"So why are you taking this out now….?" He asks, sitting against the desk.
"Because I want to…" Estel grins, taking the medal out of its place before adjusting the heavy silver emblem around his neck.
"So is that the only reward I'm getting tonight?" Adam grins. "The office is empty after all…."
She then leans forward still with her arms around him before the two of them passionately kiss each other, heating the atmosphere around them.
"Lauren? What's going on? Is everything ok?" Axel spots the young woman pacing around the hospital ward.
"Axel!" She turns around, slightly unnerved.
"Hey, we appreciate all the help from the city but I'm sorry but I can't deal with any more journalists right now…" he shakes his head.
"I er, I didn't come here to make a report….. I was wondering if Sammy had received my letter?" She nervously asks.
Axel frowns "What letter?"
"A few days ago when things started to get out of control in the city, Blaze came knocking on our door. She said she had followed you and the others and needed our help. So I gave her a message to pass to Sammy. She placed it under her coat, in her jacket pocket."
"Wait here a minute…"
A few moments later, he steps out of the hospital room holding the folded piece of paper.
"I'm sorry, Blaze never got the chance to see him or give this to Sammy out there. We had to leave him behind after he got shot during the plane crash…"
"What?!!" Lauren's eyes widen with concern.
"Look, er… why don't you give it to Skates yourself? He's in that room over there on the left, I'm sure seeing you will cheer him up…" Axel smiles, handing her back the letter which is now slightly ripped and blood stained.
She pauses, glancing down at the piece of paper with worry on her face.
"Are Blaze and the baby ok?" She cautiously asks.
"Yeah….er, they're not out of the woods yet but…." he shrugs, looking down at the ground exhausted, placing his palm at the back of his head.
"Lauren?!" Sammy limps out of his hospital room, pleasantly surprised to see her.
"Hey you!" She turns around giving him a warm smile.
"It's good to see you…"
"I'm glad to see you too…" her eyes light up with happiness.
"I'm gonna give you two kids some space…" Axel awkwardly turns around to leave.
"Wait!" Lauren stops him in his tracks. "I know why you killed my uncle. I loved him as he was family but, I don't blame you for doing it and I don't hold it against you. Mom and Dad understand why you did it too…."
"Thanks. I know things got tough for your family, but I appreciate that." He nods, feeling the consequence of his decision before walking away.
Until now, Axel's dark past has always had a way of catching up with him. And Wood Oak City, his home, is a constant reminder of it. He knows that he has a lot of thinking to do over the next few days. With the trial of the twins looming around the corner, once that is all over, he understands that making the decision for him and his family to stay or leave will be difficult.