"Put it down- put the weapon down now!" I yelled at the gun-man.
"Put yours down first!"
"Alright, thank you for coming in on short notice Eddie, Spike, Perra," Greg said, as we all stood in the debriefing room in full uniform except for Greg, "The Scotsdale case is in court today, and the Crown has a police informant. Courthouse Security has three other cases going on at the same time, so their guys are already stretched out, so they need us in to shore up the defenses."
"The Scotsdale case?" I asked, "You mean the Import and Export fraud case?"
"That'd be the one." Greg said.
"Why don't we have the full team?" Spike asked.
"We shouldn't need it." Ed said, "Simple stuff. Spike on access control as people come in. Once we're in, Security locks the door, and they watch it from the outside. Inside, we'll have Perra covering the informant, I'll be on the Crown, and Spike can watch the defendant."
"You sure?" I asked, "Because I don't think Jules would mind if we called her in."
"Perra-" Ed asked, "Do you see any spots to have two extra guys?"
I looked at the layout of the court room on the screen. "No."
"My point exactly, let's move."
Once at the courthouse, we checked in with the Security Officers.
"Yeah, we can still watch your door." The one officer confirmed with Ed, "You have one of your guys watching people as they go in, and we're all good."
"That's good." Ed said, as we walked down the hallway with the Security Officer.
"How many people are we expecting?" I asked.
"Shouldn't be too many." The officer replied, as we rounded the corner.
Once on the other side, we saw a large crowd of people who were sectioned off, and waiting to enter the courtroom.
"Not too many, right?" I asked again, "Ed- we'll need to bring the eye in from a different door. We can't bring him in from here, he'll be too exposed."
"I agree." Ed said, as he looked to the Security Officer, "You know why there'd so many people here?"
"It was a big case." I quickly responded, before Ed could get angry at the Officer, "A lot of people got burned in it. They probably want to see justice happen to the guy who took their money in promise that they'll get something across the border."
"True." Ed said, as his anger level dwindled down, "Spike, we got another entrance to bring the eye in?"
I looked over to see Spike working on a tablet.
"The only other way is to bring him in the same way as the defendant."
"You can't do that." The Security Officer said, "We got the defendant in a holding cell back there. He'll have to go right by him. He'll see him."
"We could disguise him- make him look like one of us." I suggested, "We got an extra vest in the truck."
"Alright, let's do it." Ed said, "Spike, start sifting through this crowd, and start sending people out of here. We don't want that entire crowd in that courthouse."
"Copy that."
I went to the truck and grabbed an extra SRU issue vest. By the time I had it in hand, Team Four rolled up.
Donna, the team's Sargent rolled down her window, "Delivery for Team One?"
"You guys delivering the eye?" I asked.
"You bet."
I opened the rear door of the SUV, and helped the eye, or the police informant out of the vehicle.
"Sir, I'm going to have to ask that you put this on." I said, as I handed him the SRU vest.
I helped him into the bulky vest, and walked him to a secured door, where an armed guard stood.
"Need this opened." I said.
The guard immediately opened the door for us as we entered.
Once inside, there were multiple holding cells for all of the cases that were in-progress and ones that were going on later in the day.
It didn't take us long to get to the door that would lead us into the courthouse where the case was going to be heard.
"Spike- status?" Ed asked over the radio.
"Security just opened the courthouse. Screening persons now."
"Copy that." Ed replied, "I got the Criminal prosecutor covered. Perra?"
"Awaiting the signal to bring in the informant." I replied.
"Ed," Spike radioed, "I got a guy here from the newspaper. Are we letting people in from the media?"
"No one told me." Ed answered, "Perra- the judge should be close to you. Check it out."
I looked around, and saw the Judge waiting patiently with the bailiff.
"Sir," I asked, forgetting the proper term to address a judge as, "Are the media allowed into the courtroom?"
"I didn't receive a memo saying that they weren't, so I'd assume so." He replied.
I radioed in, "Spike- the judge cleared any media representatives."
"Alright."
"I got a problem here." Ed replied, "Coming to you Perra."
Ed came to the back, with the Crown's lawyer behind him.
"The crown has two lawyers." Ed said.
"And?"
I could tell Ed was deep in thought. Something must've came to his mind.
"Ok- Spike, you'll cover both the defense and the eye. Perra will cover the eye and the Crown. I will double on the crown."
"Simple?" I asked Ed with sarcasm.
"Funny- very funny."
"Ok- crowds in. We ready?" Spike asked over the radio.
"Copy that," came my response, as I nodded to the bailiff, "Bailiff coming in."
I wasn't in the courtroom, but I could tell what was going on, since I've had previous experiences in courtrooms.
The bailiff would enter. He would then ask everyone to rise, while the Judge comes in and sits. He must've just done that, as the Judge walked into the room.
After that, the bailiff would continue to explain some basic rules of the courtroom.
All cellphones off, no eating or drinking, and that at no time should a person leave the courtroom unless under direct authorization or order to do so.
Then, he would introduce the Crown- the lawyer's representing the written law. Ed is the only SRU Officer covering them right now, but that's ok.
Then a Courthouse Security Guard typically brings in the witnesses, if any.
This time however, it's going to be me in the place of the Security Guard, and the police informant as the witness.
That's my cue.
I already had the informant remove the SRU vest. I took him by the arm, took him into the courtroom.
Once in, my situational awareness kicked in. I'm now covering both the informant and the Crown's lawyers.
If the lawyers were to be under imminent threat, I could be to them in three strides. Four, if I have to draw either the MP5 or the handgun.
The first order of business is to go through the charges. The defendant is facing charges of fraud, exporting without permits, importing without permits, engaging in fraudulent activities, fraudulent conspiracy, possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, possession of prohibited weapons and devices with intent to distribute, and accessory to manslaughter.
The judge asked, "How do you plea?"
The defendant's lawyer stood to properly address the judge.
"My client pleads guilty to all charges, save the charges of exporting and importing without permits, which he pleads not guilty."
Then the judge and the lawyer bantered on for about 10 minutes, insuring they knew exactly how the defendants pleads were for each charge.
"Fraud?" the judge asked again for the fifth time.
"Guilty."
"Accessory to Manslaughter?"
"Guilty."
Finally, the judge was satisfied, and the case continued. The defendant would get a chance to use any and all witnesses, including the police informant.
"Who do you call to the stand?" the bailiff asked.
"I call my client- Peter Jacobs to the stand."
In his orange jumpsuit, and shackles around his ankles and his hands in cuffs in front of him, Peter Jacobs came to the stand.
"Do you swear to tell the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help you God?" the bailiff asked.
"So God helps me." Came his reply.
The defendant's lawyer came up and started questioning his client. I swept the crowd with my eyes.
I saw a journalist, front center, fidgeting with his pen and paper. He looked like he was sitting with something bulky on his left side.
"So you were not aware that permits were required for the export or import of goods between Canada, to the United States or Mexico?"
"No, I was not aware. No one told me. No one asked me."
I continued sweeping the crowd. Again, my eyes landed on the journalist. Something seemed off with him.
I looked up to the stand, and noted that the Crown was now cross-examining the witness that the defending lawyer had brought to the stand. The lawyer was just railroading Peter Jacobs, bringing forth slides, papers, and other documentation that further incriminated him.
I saw that Spike was looking at me, so I very quickly nodded in the direction of the journalist who had caught my attention.
Since Spike and Ed were further away from the stand, Spike was able to quietly radio Ed to inform him of the person in question.
I saw Ed nod at me to confirm that he had indeed received my message. Message received.
The cross-examination of Peter Jacobs was done. The defendant didn't have any more witnesses to call upon, so the case continued to the prosecution.
"Who do you call to the stand?" the bailiff asked the prosecuting lawyers.
"We call upon Mr. Dennis Saucier." The Crown stated.
"As?" the bailiff asked.
"As a witness to the crimes in question, as a police informant."
I could tell that the entire crowd was on the edge of their seats. Whatever the informant would say, it would most likely be the final bar in the prison cell that Peter Jacobs would be in for the next 8 years.
I walked the informant to the stand. The bailiff nodded at me, as if he agreed with my decision to walk with him.
It's not like I have a choice.
"Objection, your honor!" came a loud voice.
I pushed the bailiff out of the way so I could see, expecting to see the defendant's lawyer standing up.
Instead, though, I saw the journalist jump the courtroom gate, with a loaded 44 magnum revolver in his hands.
Immediately, Spike and Ed converged behind the journalist, weapons drawn.
"Put it down- put the weapon down now!" I yelled at the journalist, with my MP5 pointed at him.
"Put yours down first!" he yelled back.
"I can't do that."
"Police informant, eh? Aren't we all police informants? Don't we all answer to the beck and call of the glorious, well-oiled machine that we call the Toronto Police Service?"
"What are you getting at sir?" Ed asked, stepping in as negotiator.
"And you're just another part of that machine, Officer." He said to Ed.
"Put the gun down," Ed asked him, "Put the gun down, and let the judge do his job. This judge will make sure the law is upheld."
"The law..." he said, as he took a better grip on the gun, and adjusted his aim onto me.
Ed nodded to me, as he decided to let me talk.
"See these guns here sir?" I said, "Heckler and Koch MP5 A3, capable of firing in 3 shot bursts and fully automatic at eight hundred rounds a minute, so unless you want a live demonstration, I suggest you put the gun down."
"The only difference between you and me, is that all I need is one shot, and this is over." The journalist said, as he fixed his point of aim to the police informant.
"And let me tell you this-" I started to say.
But I never finished. Instead, I heard one single shot. At first, I thought it came from Spike's gun, but as soon as I looked down and saw the puddle of blood at my feet, I figured otherwise.
I started coughing, as I fell to my knees. Instead of just a standard dry cough, I was coughing up more blood than I've ever seen before. I looked over to see Spike and Ed getting a pair of cuffs on the journalist.
Courthouse Security had opened the doors, and was securing the judge and the lawyers.
I no longer had the strength to hold myself up on my knees, and fell down, with my back in the thick blood that surrounded me.
"We need an EMT!" Spike yelled, even though I could barely hear him.
I brought up my hand, and started putting pressure on the gaping hole in my throat.
My ex-wife…Matthew…Jules- my new wife. Megan- I'm so proud of her. She's going to make an excellent cop someday.
My baby. Jules is pregnant. I have a baby on the way. In nine months, my baby will be born.
A baby I'll never see.
Spike came to my side, and started putting pressure on the wound. "Hang in there buddy, hang in there. EMTs are thirty seconds out."
"Spike." I whispered, because I couldn't talk any louder.
He didn't hear me.
"Spike!" I managed to say louder, but only ended up coughing up more blood all over Spike, and now Ed, who came to my side.
"Yeah?" Ed asked.
"Take care of them."
And that was the last thing I remember.
Ed and Spike went to the station and debriefed with Greg, with Perra's blood still on their uniforms and hands.
After debriefing, Ed said to both Spike and Greg that he had to go.
He knew where he had to go, and during his drive there, he was going through how he would say it in his mind.
Once in the driveway, he immediately got out. He stopped himself, even though it was raining, and looked at the house. The house that Jules had started to renovate on her own time years ago and the home that Perra and Jules had finished together.
Ed looked to Jules' Jeep in the driveway, wondering if Megan was going to get another car, and if there would ever be more than two vehicles in this driveway again.
He approached the door and knocked, leaving bright red blood mark on the door.
"Ed…" Jules said, as she answered the door, "You ok? Come on in."
Ed took the invite and stepped inside the door. He saw Megan sitting on the couch.
"Megan." He said, as he nodded to her "Why don't you come here- I have something I need to tell you."
Megan stood up and walked closer to Ed, as she took in the blood on his sleeves.
"What's going on Ed? Where's my dad?" Megan asked.
It was at that point that Ed couldn't hold it back anymore. He had tried to keep his tough exterior look, but it was hard as the tears started rolling down his eyes.
"When's dad coming home?" Megan asked again.
"Megan- he's not." Ed explained, between sobs, as he wiped the tears from his face, getting blood on his cheeks, "He's dead."
Jules immediately looked to Ed, then Megan.
Megan immediately started to cry. Not just a standard cry, more like a painful cry- a cry that would never go away.
Ed saw the tears in Jules' eyes, as Jules grabbed Megan, and stopped her from falling, because she no longer had the will to continue standing.
With Ed's help, Jules carried Megan over to the couch, where they laid Megan down as she continued to cry.
Ed turned to see Jules almost in a ball on the floor, with her head buried in her arms, and her hands over her ears, as she tried to block everything out. Block everything out that Ed had just said.
But she couldn't. Jules started crying.
Ed didn't know what to do with himself, so he left, knowing that if he didn't get home within the next five minutes, he'd start crying too.
Megan continued weeping, as she looked to the door, wanting this to be an elaborate prank and to see her father walk through the door. But he never did. She sat up and continued tearing until her eyes were dry.
Jules knew that Ed would never lie about this, but she wanted to believe that he was. When she saw Megan sit up on the couch, looking at the front door, she got up and hugged her daughter more closely than she ever did.
They fell asleep together, with Megan tightly embraced in Jules' arms. The next day, Greg came by with Laura Green, the police psychiatrist.
Jules didn't want to talk to Laura, and neither did Megan. Instead, they just continued crying for the next 3 hours, while Greg recounted Perra's career highlights, and commending him as an excellent officer.
Just as Laura and Greg were leaving, Spike came.
Maybe it was because Spike had seen death before, he initially gave Megan and Jules space, but once he knew that they were comfortable with him being there, he told them that everything was going to be ok.
Jules and Megan couldn't stop weeping though.
The SRU Commander came and assured both Megan and Jules that all funeral arrangements and expenses were going to be covered by the SRU under the Collective Bargaining Agreement Benefits, and also because he had died while on duty.
Just before the commander left, Jules brought herself back up, and held back her emotions and tears for a few moments to ask- "How did he die?"
The commander bit his lip.
"He was shot Mrs. Perrasmith. Again, I am sorry for your loss."
A/N: I'd like to dedicate the following chapter to some of the following people who have either motivated me, kept me writing, or have just been there for me when I need help: DH- my mentor of the finer things in life- including writing; My late grandmother, who took things as they were and had a smile and a place in her heart for everyone who crossed her path; my best pal and partner in crime (when I actually mean music)- Derek; and finally, to my readers. I wish I could meet you guys, and to be honest, I really wish I could at least say thank you to everyone who reads the story.
The problem with the last part- I can't say thank you if you don't review!