Here's the next installment. I have an idea of where I want the story to end, but I'm still working on how the take down will go. Hopefully, it will come together this weekend. Thank you to everyone who has left reviews.
Chapter 5
Team One pulled up about a block away from the Blazer residence. Quickly, they all met in front of Ed and Greg's SUV. Greg held up a hand and the team looked at him expectantly. "At this time we're operating under the assumption that the subject is not at the house, but his wife and children are. However, we will use an abundance of caution until we confirm that fact. How's everyone doing? Anyone need to talk about anything?" The boss looked over his team and met each individual's gaze. They all looked steady. He met his team leader's eyes. Ed nodded that he was satisfied and began handing out assignments.
"Raf and Spike, circle around back and assess the yard and rear entrance. Greg and Jules, you attempt contact at the front door. Sam, you and I will clear and cover for them. Good to go?" Even as the "yes, sirs" began the team was heading to complete their tasks. It was a warm summer evening and the neighborhood had families out and about. As they headed toward the tidy, yellow house, the constables asked the neighbors to return to their own residences. Curiosity was evident, but not one person questioned the polite "requests" of the uniformed officers.
Spike and Raf carefully walked along the driveway. A young girl and smaller boy were blowing bubbles in the yard. Spike spoke quietly through his headset updating the rest of the team. Ed instructed the team to move the children into the neighboring yard and secure the rear door. Raf approached the children who reacted nervously. The younger boy hid behind his sister who bravely asked, "Who are you?"
Raf crouched to the children's level and said, "We're police officers and I want you to play with the bubbles over next door for a few minutes." A soft voice stated, "We're not allowed to leave the yard without permission." Spike chuckled and quietly answered, "That's a very smart rule, but since we're the police, I think it's okay just this once. We're going to be sure you're safe." Raf herded the children into the other yard and positioned them behind a shed. Spike crept along the back window, reported no movement in the house. He tried the back door and found it unlocked, but didn't make entry. He reported the status to team and received orders to hold position.
Meanwhile, in the front of the house, Sam broke away from the group to peek through the front window. The house looked quiet. The evening news was on the TV, but he could see no one in the room. Greg reached up and knocked briskly on the front door. Sam saw a medium height, red haired woman walk toward the door and then stop as if she had to gather courage before she went to answer the door. As it swung opened the confusion on her face was apparent. "May I help you?" she asked politely.
Greg introduced himself as Sergeant Gregory Parker, then introduced Jules. The confusion wasn't lessened by the introduction. Greg then asked if her husband was in the house. There was a negative shake of the woman's head. Ed stepped up and asked, "Do you mind if we look around and confirmed that?" He really didn't give her time to answer as he and Sam entered the front door and looked for their subject. The young mother stepped back, but quickly began talking. "Listen, I just got the baby to sleep so please don't wake her. What's this about? I need to check on my other children." She took a quick breath.
Greg jumped in. "It's okay, Mrs. Blazer—is that right? Are you Mrs. Taryn Blazer?" As the woman nodded, he continued, "My colleague has a baby at home himself so he can be thorough and quiet at the same time. My officers have made contact with your children in the backyard and they are playing bubbles in the neighboring yard. We need to ask you a few questions. Is it alright if we sit?" Taryn motioned her arms toward the furniture in the living room as Ed and Sam called the all clear on their tour of the house. Jules, Greg and Taryn sat down. Greg gently asked, "Mrs. Blazer, could you tell me where your husband is right now?" Taryn looked bewildered by the question and answered quickly. "I have no idea. He's…We've separated this last week and I haven't spoken with him." There was a short pause and then she continued, "He can't come here to the house. I have an order of protection. He's left a few messages on the machine, but to be honest I haven't listened to them. In the past, I have not made him stay away and this time I'm not backing down." Although her voice was resolute, her eyes filled with tears. Jules patting her knee in comfort. Greg nodded slightly at his female colleague.
Jules gave the woman a moment and then ventured, "Do you remember the incident at the pool last week? Could you tell me a little about that?" Taryn nodded and slowly replied, "It was the day that I came to the conclusion that things weren't going to get better unless I made them better. We were at the pool having a pleasant afternoon. Annie was playing with a friend and the friend's father was tossing his kids into the water. He did the same with Annie a few times and she was having a great time—giggling and laughing. I hadn't seen that side of her in a while. James, my husband, grew unhappy that Annie was enjoying this other dad so much. You see, she won't go near him anymore." She grew pensive and quiet. Greg and Jules nodded encouragingly and then Jules asked, "Can you tell me about that?"
Taryn's face turned red and she averted her eyes. "James has always had a temper. He's quick to complain and yell, but it's always been directed at me, after the children were in bed or busy elsewhere. He lost his job sometime last year and since then the yelling has progressed to rough handling. One time, Annie walked in the room and he was choking me. Another time I had a black eye and she seemed to know without asking that he had done it. I've made him leave in the past, but he always promises that it won't happen again. I've let him return." Jules softly intervened. "What was different about this day?"
Taryn bit her lip and then went on, "James saw Annie having fun with that other family and told me to pack up that we were leaving. He called Annie, but she didn't want to leave. He grabbed her upper arms and she cried out. I told him to let her go and that just set him off. We quickly headed toward the car, but he got louder and more angry. The dad from the other family saw what was happening. I know he was just trying to be helpful, but it made it worse. By the time we got home, James was in a state. I put the kids in the back room with a snack. James was ranting and hit me so hard I thought he broke my ribs. Somehow I got the phone and called the police. They made him leave. I called the domestic violence hotline from the card that dad gave me." Her voice trailed off as she stared at her hands in her lap. "You must think I'm an awful mother."
Jules jumped right on that statement, "No, Taryn. I think you're a mom who is working hard to protect her kids. Your husband is responsible for his own actions." The woman began crying in earnest at that point. Sam discreetly handed a box of tissues to Jules and she offered them to the distraught mom. Greg took over for the moment. "This is going to be hard to hear, but we need your help so I'm going to be straight with you. That other dad is a former team member of ours and now he works with another department. I know as a police officer he would be very happy that you're working to get yourself and your children into a safer and more healthy environment. I need to tell you though that we believe your husband shot Officer Wordsworth in his driveway earlier today." Taryn looked up with a shocked expression on her face. She blurted out, "No, no, please, no!"
Greg gave her a moment and then continued. "Now the officer is in surgery and the doctors couldn't offer promises, but they're hoping for a full recovery. Mr. Blazer is on a dangerous and destructive path though. Officer Wordsworth's wife and three young daughters were in the home at the time. They are upset but okay. We need to bring your husband in before this goes any further. Do you have any idea where we can find him?" Taryn sat very still with a dazed look on her face. The room was very quiet. "Mrs. Blazer?" Greg said softy and then a bit more forcefully, "Taryn? Do you know where your husband is?"
Taryn Blazer gave herself a small shake and turned to Greg. "I believe he's staying with an old friend on Oak Rd. I can get you the address. His friend, Ray, is not a good influence on him. Together they drink too much and basically act foolish. That's one of the reasons I've let him come home in the past. Leaving him with Ray was never a good option."
Ed was on the headset giving instructions for Spike and Raf to bring the children inside. He then asked Winnie to send a cruiser to their location. Greg looked carefully at Taryn. "Okay, I'm going to ask that you allow my officer to listen to those messages on your phone. We want all the information we can get right now. In a few minutes, my team is going to need to head out, but I'm going to leave a police car outside until we have Mr. Blazer in custody. If you hear from him this evening, I want you to call me immediately. Keep to your routine, but I would keep the children indoors for the rest of the evening." The young mother agreed and arose to get her phone. Spike intercepted her and with his patented friendly smile, he asked for her pin number to access the messages.
Jules stood from her position on the couch and asked, "Taryn, is there anything else you can think of that will help this situation? The more information we have the better chance of a safe outcome for everyone." Taryn turned and replied, "James will not just end this easily. Ray will encourage him and he will consider this some kind of macho standoff. Please be careful."
The police car arrived in front of the house and the team made preparations to leave the house.