YOU ARE DONE
Bobby waited for the couple to be otherwise engaged in "conversation" and slipped out the door to the house to wait outside to stand watch. He moved beyond their noises and listened for anything that might give him warning of danger. Only the normal night noises were apparent. He sat down in a lawn chair and waited for the day to break.
Mike came out and sat next to him. "They sure can go at it." He said calmly.
"They needed that talk." Bobby said.
Mike nodded. "A major injury like that tends to upset young partners like them."
"You make us sound ancient." Bobby complained.
"Sometimes, I feel ancient." Mike grinned. "Except in bed….."
"Never mind. I don't need to hear the details." Bobby told him.
They sat watching the stars go out one by one. Dawn was breaking when they smelled coffee making. "Someone's up." Mike commented.
"Probably Alex. She's the coffee aholic." Bobby said.
Both men were alert when a vehicle came barreling down the driveway. They ducked back into the house and startled Jerry awake from the couch. Karen jumped because he did. "Someone's here. And they're coming in fast." Bobby told him.
All three men headed for the kitchen. Alex was already by the back door and ready with her handgun in her left hand. Two figures jumped out of the car and raced for the house. "It's Ross and Sackett." Jerry told them and opened the door. Bullets slapped against the house and they all dove for cover. A bullet broke the window but plowed harmlessly into the kitchen floor.
"Everyone back." Sackett said.
"What's going on, Captain?" Bobby asked.
"We found out who the shooters are. It is the Davidson family. They are all around this place and they intend to kill everyone here." Ross supplied.
"So you decided to come join the party?" Alex asked sharply.
"No, we were coming out here to find out how Karen was when they tried to ambush us. We had to get here, because they can't let us leave alive now." Sackett told her sharply.
"So what are we going to do?"
"We have to try to take them out. I called Deakins and he's going to bring reinforcements and try to get around behind them, but I'm not sure how much clout he still has in the department."
"A lot." Karen said. "Good morning, Captain."
"You should still be in the hospital." Sackett told the woman.
"I couldn't sleep. I went for a walk." Karen told her.
"So I heard. You're a liability here."
"It's her house and she has all the firepower." Carolyn said joining the group.
"What firepower?" Ross demanded.
Both captains were amazed at the amount of weaponry and ammunition Karen had. "You are a very naughty girl, Wesson. And thank you for it." Sackett told her.
"Where could they be hiding?" Ross asked.
"Karen? This is your place." Jerry told his partner.
"Out behind the barn, where they were before. Over near the storage shed, east of the house and more than likely from the back of the dog pens. Without dogs in there it's smelly but safe. Any one of those places would be good cover."
"We need something to distract them while we make a break for it. We can't stay pinned down here." Sackett said.
"What about spotlights? We can rig something up so there would be spotlights shining in their eyes when we go?" Jerry asked.
"Good idea, but where will we get them?" Mike asked.
"Karen, those work lights you had for the evenings. They're halogen. We could use those."
"Good. They're still in the back room."
"I'll go get them."
More shots thudded into the house. "They're going to owe me big time for the siding." Karen said.
"I'll make sure I take it out of their hide." Mike promised.
"My hero." Carolyn told him and put a hand on his arm.
"We need to get to the vehicles. If we can get them on the run, we can get help from the state boys. Which side are they most likely to be most accurate from, Karen?"
"The east isn't that great of a range. But if we open the door it'll tip them off. The west is open, but so are they. Probably straight out back. It's open but only for a short space then it's covered by the barn.
"It also leaves the house exposed."
"If they're blinded for a few minutes, it'll give us a chance. Captain Sackett, is your car parked in front of the barn?" Bobby demanded.
"I guess. Why?"
"We parked out behind the shed. We aren't going to be able to get to our vehicle. Mike, where did you park?"
"Behind that wooden fence."
"He won't be able to see it there." Ross put in. "Mike, you and I can make a run for it and go after them from the West."
"What about me?" a new voice asked.
"Uncle Jim." Karen cried and reached for her uncle.
"Hey, kiddo." He squeezed her hand.
"How'd you get in?" Bobby asked, heartily glad to see the man.
"I can still sneak in with the best of them. Listen, I called in all of my favors, but it's going to be awhile before they get here."
"A while? We're under siege, here." Sackett said indignantly.
"There seems to be a jurisdictional dispute. I gave it up and came with a few friends. We need to get these guys."
"We're going to see about a jurisdictional dispute when we get out of here." Ross said angrily.
"First we have to get out of here." Carolyn said.
"I'm going to put my two cents in here. If Ross and Mike go east, Sackett you and I can go for the west guys and Bobby and Jerry can take out the ones in the back. I read reports on these guys. They're cowards. They shoot from hiding and run if they're the targets. If we all go at once, I think we can rout them out once and for all." Deakins offered.
Ross and Sackett looked at each other. No one else had a plan. "Alright then. We go on three."
Jerry came back carrying the lights. Alex filled him in on the plan and he gave Bobby an odd look. "I have a better idea. Why don't we put the two on the sides to route then when they see the others taking off, the ones in the back will run like rabbits and we can get them all."
"You'll notice he gets the safe plan." Mike stated drily.
"He who makes the plan gets the good job." Jerry said.
Ross looked at Sackett. "I'm glad he's in your squad."
"So am I."
Jerry and Bobby set up the spotlights. The four that were leaving first gathered up their equipment. "Get them any way you have to." Ross told them all. "We'll sort it out after."
The four of them bunched by the door. Alex flung open the door and leaped out of the way. Bobby and Jerry snapped on the lights and aimed them at the places where the shooters were. They were briefly illuminated, but the shooting started from behind the barn. Alex grabbed her gun and started shooting back. It was too far for her gun but the psychology was enough to divert them from their task.
Bobby slammed the door closed and turned to his partner. She was grey and had dropped her empty gun on the floor. She was holding onto her shoulder. "Did they get you?" he demanded.
"No it's my shoulder." She panted.
"You shouldn't have tried that." He scolded.
"You should go now. Just so they don't regroup." Alex said, picking up her gun and reloading it. She looked worried at her partner.
Karen felt her way over to Jerry. "I'm sorry for earlier."
"You were right to be angry with me. I feel like this is my fault."
"It's not. You be careful, alright?"
"I will." Jerry took her hand and pulled it up to his face so she could feel his smile.
Bobby and Jerry got ready to go. There was a huge explosion. Karen ducked against Jerry with a whimper." "Damn. There goes our wheels." Bobby said.
"We can't go after them now." Jerry said.
"You can." Karen stared at where she thought his head would be. "You can. Don't forget the… "
"Beast." They said at the same time.
"Who's the beast?" Carolyn wanted to know.
"Not a who, it's a what." Jerry said. "Are you sure?"
"Take the keys, Jerry." Karen told him.
Jerry reached over and kissed her quickly. "I'll bring it back in one piece."
"Don't make promises you can't keep." She said.
"They're going to run right into gunfire." Carolyn said.
"Not if we give them cover fire. Karen, come with me." Alex pulled Karens hand. "You can't see and I can't shoot, but between us we can. Carolyn, help us."
Bobby wanted to argue, but Alex was making sense. He ripped the door open and he and Jerry bolted for the barn.
Alex got behind Karen and used her hand to turn Karen slightly. "Fire." Karen did but the bullet went wild. "Down and to the right." She said. "More, there. Fire. Now take it up a bit, no too much, there, fire."
Carolyn needed no such instructions. She was angrily placing bullets in a strict pattern toward the men who thought this house would be to tomb for her and her baby. Not if she could help it, damn it! There was a yelp when she got one and she wanted to cheer, but there wasn't time. There were still movement and she wasn't about to stop until they were all gone or dead. She kept firing.
TBC