Chapter 6: Sworn
P O V: Hailey Upton
"CPD Freeze!" It hardly ever works sometimes I wonder why we even scream it other than the whole legal point, wouldn't it just be better to run my ass off sneak up on the suspect and tackle their damn ass? Yes oblivious but no the law says we must warn the criminal because their only suspected of committing the crime that I literately just saw them committing. Nope their not guilty till a court of law says they are.
Kim hasn't even stopped the SUV before I am springing out of the vehicle already giving chase to three of the teens who have now split from the fourth, Kim's not far behind me, I can hear Erin Lindsay also joining us in pursuit of three of the teens.
"CPD Freeze! Diego! Eva stop resisting!" Erin seems too know two of the teens how? Kim is closer to me now both of us already breathing heavy. "We need to hit the gym Burgess we're getting old and out of shape," She laughs "Will make it a date babe, tomorrow after shift, me and you Goldie's gym,"
We high fived each other as I grabbed my radio having a bad feeling this chase wasn't ending any time soon. "This is Detective Upton, I am currently chasing three teens down 3501 N Elston Ave, be advised there are plain clothes officers on the scene we are requesting backup all three teens are wearing black jeans, light blue polo shirts, Grey and purple hoodies. Turing left just past Chief O'Neills Pub," "Copy Detective backup is on the way,"
"Diego and Eva Dawson," Kim gasps out as we pick up our pace Erin is still slightly behind us "Dawson?" I turn towards her seeing her nod confirming to me that these two are in fact Detective Antonio Dawson's teenagers. "fuck man," "yup that's what he'll be saying," We laughed slightly despite the fact it's not a laughing matter. That's the best thing about being best friends with someone you can take anything and make it laughable.
Kim and I became close two years ago when I transferred up to the intelligence unit from homicide, robbery. She was feeling the void of the sudden departure of Erin Lindsay, I never had many girlfriends honestly never saw the need. Till I found myself needing a bigger apartment after my younger brother Tyler cane to live with me. He wasn't getting along with his parents our mom Cali and his dad Detroit. Tyler is technically my half brother my dad was murdered when I was 13 in front of me. His death inspired me to study hard so I could become a detective and help others who were feeling the pain, anger and injustice after a robbery or murder. I spent every summer in science camp studying hard so I could get into a top college to get a degree in forensic science. That left little time for making friends or having a social life, I learned to close myself off from everyone including my mom who was stressed trying to raise myself and my three brothers Marshall, Robert and Jamie, while working a stressful job as a College Professor at Knox College.
It wasn't till I was in college that I actually took the time to really talk to my mom to see how stressed she was, she had been battling a range of emotions since my dad's death.
Going from grief over the loss of her husband to relief because even though she had lost her soul mate the love of her life, my dad wasn't always the saint everyone wants to make the dead out of, he had anger issues, he was an alcoholic. When the two were combined he lost control taking it out on my mom, when we made too much noise during his games he took it out on us, I always stepped up to protect my brothers. Which killed my mom knowing she couldn't protect us, she was too afraid to leave, because he put fear into her, telling her she could never make it on her own, she wasn't strong enough smart enough. Than the next day he'd bring home roses, chocolates he would make reservations at the best restaurants for all of us, he'd pay is tickets to our favorite games, concerts promising he'd change.
He never did of course, which lead to her confusion. His death gave her the escape she needed and craved for so long, which made her feel guilty because for his faults he wasn't a monster, he was human with flaws, he was her husband and our father and we loved him craved his attention and pride. Now we were left with just broken dreams, unanswered questions and the feeling that no matter what we did in life or where we went we would never be completely safe. If our dad Devon who was born in England, who came to America at just 16 years of age with only his bare hands, strong work ethic and a pocket full of dreams could be murdered than how were any of safe?
Our dad was 6'10 he weighed 220 pounds he worked out everyday I know because he would get us kids up at the crack of dawn everyday to go running with him in or neighborhood of Wrigleyville he would point out to us all the historic facts, history lessons became a love/ hate relationship between all of us kids. He loved history always wished he would have had the money to go to college and get a teaching degree, instead he ended up working as a grounds keeper at Wrigley field. Everyone knew him as Devon the bear because he was always clowning around at work he even went over board and brought a bear costume which he wore to work every summer, fall and spring during baseball season, the kids loved it, they would all run up hug him, ask for pictures. He never refused a kid. So if someone could murder him, how were any of us safe?
Once I was in college I started to feel better I felt good knowing I was doing something to bring a little justice to this world, to try to make a difference. I started to have friends, date, my first serious boyfriend Jake got me to open up to cry to share my feelings which I had never shared with anyone before. He got me into boxing which felt great punching things letting out my anger. It made me understand all these years my mom had no one, so I spent months convincing her she needed to start to date, to be happy that she had that right. Jamie and I even went and set her up on one of those online dating services. She wanted to kill us both even after she met Detroit who it turned out was also a professor at her college, they hit it off dated for two years, then she found out she was pregnant.
Tyler was born in March of 2004 my junior year of college since my mom and step-dad had both been amazing at saving money they took a year sabbatical and traveled to Africa as missionaries where they fell in love with helping people, they ended up taking full time jobs as teachers over in one of the larger villages there.
Two years ago Tyler expressed that he wanted to experience life as a normal teenager so I agreed to take custody of him. At first it was an adjustment I never had my own kids barely even babysat, I was just starting in this unit, he's a teen which is hard enough when you've raised them since kids, we barely knew each other, yet we've made it work.
Once he came to live with me though I needed a bigger place so Kim and I decided that since she was caring for her sister Nicole who had been sexually assaulted, plus her niece Zoe, we would get a bigger place together. It's been amazing Zoe has become Tyler's best friend she's taken him under her ropes, they spend almost all their time together she's introduced him to her friends including Violet Jordan, Matthew Casey's niece.
Raising Tyler has taught me to take time to appreciate life's little moments, to laugh to keep my eyes always open, it's also taught me how precious love is, he's only 14 he has so much to learn to experience and he's eager to do it all. Just last month I took him shopping for a tux because he was going to his first semi formal school dance with a girl he really liked Violet. He was so nervous so full of self doubt, anxiety, Matt and I made a double date out of it he took Tyler aside and taught him everything a teenage boy needed to know like it was normal to be nervous, to have anxiety yet it was okay to also allow yourself to explore yourself to get to know what makes you special. He reminded Tyler that most kids his age can't speak Arabic, French and English, Swahil. This made Tyler grin he came up with the idea of making a mini video of pictures and videos of the two of them, he wanted to include as many sayings of friendship in each language that he spoke as a way to break the ice, because I told him she was just as nervous all teen girls always are when they like a boy who they aren't sure likes them back.
Matt gave him a safe place to talk to ask questions I couldn't answer, he let him know that being a guy was tough he would face pressure and bullying if he wasn't part of the in crowd but at the end of the day he had to stay true to himself to his values, morals otherwise he would always regret it. He also made sure Tyler would always respect girls and knew what No means.
After Tyler was asleep Matt and I stayed up talking sipping wine which lead to us kissing, he is the first guy I have felt romantic feelings for in a while.
Now as I am chasing these three kids I wonder what went wrong why they felt it was okay to beat another teen nearly to death to tie him to a pole under the train tracks. What had he possibly said or done in his young life that was worth this fate?
Why were Antonio's kids even involved? I know he's taught them right from wrong, he's a good cop a good man, I never heard of his kids being in any trouble, he always brags about how smart they are straight A students, they volunteer at homeless shelters, save money to give to children's charity, he taught them two basic rules.
Never run from the cops
Never resist arrest
"CPD Freeze! Stop running pull your hands out of your pockets!" None of the kids stopped Diego did look back at us, I saw tears built up he was afraid, which made me afraid because I knew for sure now he was more involved than I suspected. Fear can be a crippling factor it can tense every muscle ever fiber in your body making you motionless, speechless, or it can motivate you to run for your very life.
Fear motivates me to keep going even if every step hurts my already blistering feet, pulls at every muscle in my legs. Makes my chest burn from lack of oxygen fear makes me fight harder because even though I am afraid for my life knowing that at any moment one of these suspects could pull out a gun and shoot me, even though I could get hit by a car on a high speed chase on foot like this.
I can't stop because somewhere out there is someone else who is even more afraid someone who has been hurt, raped, shot or stabbed someone innocent. They don't have the power to arrest and bring their assailant to justice, but I do I took an oath to serve to protect, that's what I will do to my last breath on earth.
I'm not afraid for just myself though, no I understand this is the life I have chosen, I will always proudly wear my blues in respect to Chicago to it's citizens. I am afraid now because I know what I have to lose, I have my mom's face on her wedding day to Detroit when she stood in front of her family, friends, former and current students, to profess her love for the man who gave her new life. I have the look on Detroit face as he welcomed my baby brother into this world, when he stood up at my college graduation party and gave a speech about how proud he was of me for taking my tragedy and making something positive out of it. I have the Medal of Valor that his son Officer Mitchel German was given in 2000 when he was shot and killed in the line of duty only three weeks into his patrol, it's a reminder to me that good men & women will always be there to risk their lives even for those who spit on us curse us or laugh at us.
I have Tyler's face engraved into my mind the first moment he saw Chicago's skyline he's had never seen an American City with his own eyes before. I have memories I don't want to lose I have promises I want to keep promises of new memories I can't wait to make.
Part of me wants to stop running to turn around to go about my life and know I can make those memories, I can keep those promises to Tyler to my parents, I can't stop though because I took an oath one I take very seriously, besides as afraid as I am, that boy laying on the side walk who maybe breathing his last breath he is even more afraid.
"Bang," I hear the gun shot I never see where the bullet goes we're running way too fast now, cars are whizzing by us, almost colliding with us, each other, many are honking angrily. I see the kid pass the gun to Diego who looks at it with fear, he looks back his eyes are wide with fear, what is he seeing? Was someone shot? I look back instantly filled with fear was it Kim or Erin? No their still running along side of me and behind me, Kim's eyes have the same fear though, why? Grabbing my radio I radio again. Where the hell is our backup?
"10-15 shots fired at plain clothes officers requesting backup at 909 Belmont Ave," Diego tossed the gun into a garbage bin. "Dispatch this is Detective Upton suspect has tossed a weapon into a garbage dumpster outside of the city suits hotel," My vision suddenly swims badly my legs feel heavy, my arms burn, everything became hot way too hot like a white flash has taken residency inside my body. My chest screamed in agony, I start coughing gasping for air which I can't seem to find, I feel liquid hot as fire pour out of my mouth, I can't stop it the lava oozes out of my throat past my lips to coat my hand a bright red. Blood. Why am I coughing up blood? Why can't I stop it?
My legs twist spasm before I can control my actions they give out my body crashes into the metal garbage can before slamming into the cold dirty sidewalk. A new wave or realization hits me hard the fear everyone had in their eyes moments before was because I was shot. My hand tries to find the wound before I can though I feel Erin's hands on my stomach I hear her voice laced in fear, pain and anger scream at Burgess. "Call it in!" I can see Burgess fumble with her radio as she stops kneeling beside me.
"Dispatch this is officer Burgess we have shots fired at plain clothes police officers, Officer is down, need a ambo to 911 Belmont Ave hurry!" Erin rips open my shirt I can see the blood already pouring over her hands. "Get blankets Burgess she's losing too much blood she'll go into shock, hurry" I can feel Burgess breath hitch, I can hear her feet turning gravel as she takes off but my vision is compromised I can no longer see. "Stay with me Upton, stay with me," cold I am so cold, I can't speak I can't feel much now just cold, people rush past us not stopping to help some even spit at us, I hear Erin curse, I feel her tears fall onto my chest. she's afraid, if she's afraid I know it's bad. Erin is a bad ass, she never shows fear or weakness.
I see a rat haul ass back into the sewer all I can think about was what a crappy place this is to die, death if I die what happens to Tyler? My eye lids are growing heavy I can feel the blankets being wrapped around me. Kim is back grabbing for her hand, I feel her squeeze it. "Kim." I can barely breath barely get the words out, I have to though. "Hailey don't strain yourself," "Kim you have to watch Tyler, take him, I made you his legal guardian, make sure he knows, I" I can't talk blood has chocked me I cough I feel her hand lift my head turn it to the side where I puke out more blood, I can't keep my eyes open, but I can talk again. 'Make sure he knows I love him, I'm sorry,"
"Hang on Hailey please hang on," Kim is screaming, crying I want to I really do I can't.