Later that Wednesday night
Glen View
Marcus had gone to the hospital with Paige.
Dave had driven us home. It would be my job to break the news to Megan... As I entered the house from the garage, I was welcomed by the four kids who suddenly screeched to a halt when they saw the blood on our clothes and my torn dress. Behind them stood Erika who had been keeping an eye on the miscreants.
Then came the crunch.
"Megan, I..."
I saw the young girl go white as all colour drained from her face and then she put out a hand to steady herself against the wall.
"Mom..."
A single whispered word and then she sank to the floor of the kitchen, sobbing. Anne-Marie, Stephanie, and Danny all looked up at me in abject horror.
"Paige has been shot, but she's alive and Marcus is with her," I said quietly, sitting down on the floor and hugging the sobbing Megan to me.
Early Thursday morning
I was awoken about two the following morning.
Not that I had really slept at all. In the bed, between Dave and I, was Megan and she had struggled to get to sleep. I grabbed the cell, vaguely recognising that it was Marcus' number calling. There was no pre-amble.
"She's out of danger and the baby is safe..."
I paused for a moment before replying.
"Thank God."
"I'm staying with Paige until the morning. Are you okay looking after Megan?"
"Of course – we'll look after her for as long as you need."
"Thank you, Mindy..."
As I replaced the cell on the table beside the bed, I felt Megan move and her eyes opened.
"Mom?"
"That was Marcus; your Mom is out of danger and the baby is safe. Go back to sleep."
I saw the tears beginning again and I hugged Megan until she fell asleep.
Twenty hours earlier
Wednesday morning
Glenview
It was a normal morning, part of a normal day.
I awoke at six, as usual – dragging Anne-Marie and Danny out of bed. I ignored the sleeping Stephanie – for the moment. Dave got the kids showered and dressed while I made them some breakfast.
Over breakfast, I explained to the twins that Dave and I would be late back and that Erika would be keeping an eye on the three of them and Megan.
"Why, where will you be?"
"At some big hotel in the centre of the city. It's a 'hello' for the newly promoted Police Officers," I explained briefly.
I did not say that they had tried to invite Kick-Ass and Hit Girl – but they would be there, anyway!
For a change, I was dreaming pleasant dream, which was nice.
No – my dream was private and somewhat embarrassing for a nine-year-old young girl, so I am saying nothing else...!
I was dragged from the dream by the world's biggest bitch.
"Come on!" Mindy yelled as she pulled the duvet off me. "Wake up!"
"If you weren't Hit Girl, I'd kill you where you stand!" I growled, opening one tired eye.
"Enjoyed your dream? That smile on your face was something!"
"Anybody told you that you're a bloody bitch?"
"Daily!"
I gave up and swung my legs onto the floor.
"Why so ruddy early?"
"It's time for a certain young lady to start school – your books are on the table in the dining room. You have thirty minutes to wash, dress and eat some breakfast."
"You're shittin' me?"
"No shit, I assure you – move your butt!"
"I'll move my arse, when I'm good and ready..."
"Do not challenge me..." Mindy warned with a dangerous look and I caved.
..._...
After breakfast, I walked into the dining room and studied the pile of books on the table.
"What is this crap?"
"Fourth grade text books – Math..."
"Can't you talk properly – it's Mathsss – there's an 's' on the end!"
Mindy ignored me.
"...Science, Literacy and Grammar..."
"If you think I'm going to start talking like a damn Yank, you're several rounds short of a full magazine!"
"...And Social Studies." Mindy finished.
I picked up the 'Math' book and flicked through it – it seemed easy...
"Where do I start?"
"Try chapter one…" Mindy laughed as she headed for the kitchen.
"... And no fighting with the other kids!" Dave added, having just returned from taking the twins to school.
I looked around the empty dining room.
"You trying to be funny?"
"My bad!" Dave laughed and heading after Mindy.
I opened the book at 'Chapter 1: Place Value of Whole Numbers'...
My life sucked!
That afternoon
"What's Steph doing?"
"Her homework – just as you should be, young lady..."
"Can we sit with her?"
"Yes, just no giggling and no talking – you all have work to do."
"Yes, Mom! Come on Danny."
An hour later
I looked up from my completed homework and my mouth fell open as Mindy walked into the dining room.
The off the shoulder dress was floor length and emerald in colour. There were diamonds hanging from each ear and a diamond necklace around her neck. Her hair was tied up in a bun on the back of her head.
"Wow, Mom – you look awesome!"
"Bugger me!" Steph announced, her eyes popping out of her head.
"Wow – if I were a man, I'd be rock hard!" Erika commented as she walked in the door with Megan.
"Tell me about it!" Dave added with a grin. "May I kiss the beautiful, sexy lady?"
"Of course..."
"Ewww!" Steph and I said together as they kissed. "Yuk!"
"Double yuk!" Danny added, pretending to throw up.
"Not bad for a thousand bucks!" Mom announced, ignoring us and giving us all a twirl.
"Behave tonight!" Megan laughed.
I had to let Dave drive the Jag as the dress prevented me from doing very much.
The looks I had received from both Dave and Erika had made me blush. I was pleased that the kids were impressed too.
"You packing?" Dave asked.
"Not necessary; it's a Cop Party – what could go wrong?"
In a few hours, I would regret not packing a fucking Gatling!
West Columbia
It was the first time that I had seen Marcus in his new Captain's uniform.
"Congratulations, old man!"
"Feels strange..."
"But he looks good enough to eat..." Paige added.
"I did not just hear that!" I squeaked.
"You look beautiful, Mindy, as you always do," Marcus said.
I blushed wildly at the compliment – Paige looked stunning too.
Trump International Hotel and Tower
Chicago
Dave pulled up outside the main entrance of the hotel.
There were uniformed Police Officers everywhere, as they gathered for the night's fun. We passed through the glass doors into the double height hotel lobby. We were then escorted to the sixteenth floor and The Terrace. All heads turned in my direction and most of the chatter ceased as I entered on Dave's arm, behind Marcus and Paige.
I immediately headed for a group of Police Officers over in one corner.
"Damn, Mindy!"
"You're looking very nice, this evening, Lieutenant Voight," I replied, blushing again. "You too, Sergeant Olinsky."
Sergeant Alvin Olinsky just grinned.
"He cleans up pretty good, don't you Al?" Detective Erin Lindsay announced with a smirk.
"Love the dress, Erin – awesome."
"Yours, too – are those diamonds real?"
"Oh yeah!"
"Well, well, Captain – you look dashing!" Lieutenant Vicky Richards grinned as she strode over.
Behind her was a stunningly attired Hailee who was blushing at the attention she was receiving from the younger Police Officers.
"You're showing a lot of leg there, Hailee!" I commented.
"I like to show my legs," Hailee replied. "I don't normally get the chance."
"You look very good out of your purple shell," Voight whispered into my ear and I blushed enormously.
Hank Voight could be very charming when he wanted to be!
"Good evening, all!" Superintendent Jack Bay announced as he joined us.
"Hi Jack – the uniform suits you," I commented as I received a kiss and gave one in return.
"It is not very often that I see such a beautiful young woman in such a beautiful dress. You look perfect, Mindy – as always. The image of your mother."
"Thank you, Jack."
..._...
We passed back through the wine bottle lined foyer and towards the Grand Ballroom. We all sat down to dinner and speeches from the Major and the City of Chicago's new Police Superintendent.
The night was fun and I enjoyed being able to talk with Marcus, Paige, Vicky and Hailee. Just as we were moving on from the main course, I felt a chill – something was wrong. I tried to ignore the sensation, but my Hit Girl sixth sense was tingling. I nudged Dave, beside me and he looked into my eyes. I saw him nod in understanding. Next, I looked over at Marcus and then Hailee. They both reacted to the look in my eyes. I saw Hailee looking around the room casually, but purposefully.
Marcus reached down to his ankle and came back up with a napkin in his hand. He passed the napkin over to me – under the napkin was Marcus' backup piece – a Glock 26 sub-compact pistol. I noticed Vicky passing over a similar package to Hailee.
"I came equipped!" Dave commented, indicating the Glock 19 in a holster around his right ankle.
Our table was over by a window, just feet from a door to the passageway. Hailee spoke first.
"Far corner, eleven o'clock. Other corner, two o'clock."
"I got 'em," I growled.
However, before we could do anything, a host of waiters and waitresses appeared to clear away the empty plates. I lost sight of the two men and then there was gunfire.
After the gunfire, came the screaming and then came the panic.
"Everybody shut the fuck up!" A man yelled as he pointed his compact submachine gun, which I recognised as a Kriss Vector Gen II, upwards, sending two rounds into the ceiling.
His shouts were ignored as the undisciplined screams continued from those non-Police present. The gunmen's plans did not seem to be going well! They seemed to be reacting though and altering their plans accordingly. They closed in on what was obviously their target – the Mayor. It seemed more like an assassination rather than a kidnapping.
Jack had the Mayor down behind the table and he fired off several rounds at the gunmen. Dave flipped our table over as a shield, other tables followed suit and I could see Voight throwing a look in my direction, a pistol in his hands. Almost everybody was behind cover as a gunfight began sixteen stories in the air. There were six gunmen, with automatic weapons and they concentrated on moving towards the Mayor, while the innocent civilians were led out under covering fire from over a dozen Police Officers.
When it was Paige's turn, she refused to go, despite Marcus shouting at her to go to safety. Paige was a stubborn bitch, which explained where Megan got her attitude! We all had limited ammunition, considering we were attending a dinner and not a war, so there was no way that we could out-shoot the gunmen. We just had to persuade them to leave.
I grabbed hold of Paige and shoved her none too gently towards the doorway with Hailee providing covering fire as we went. We found ourselves in the Grand Foyer just outside the Grand Ballroom. Just then, another door burst open further along the corridor and a gunman appeared. I threw Paige down and sent three bullets towards the man. I switched out the magazine and dived down as several shots came in our direction from another gunman as he came through the door. I heard a scream behind me, but ignored it as I concentrated on the gunman.
Marcus came up behind me, we both fired our last rounds off towards the gunman, and he fell down in a pool of blood. I began to hear shouts of 'clear' indicating that all the gunmen were down. That was when I turned in relief and saw Hailee staring at the floor.
I followed her gaze and saw Paige, a pool of her blood spreading across the thick carpet and soaking her dress.
Thursday morning
Glenview
Breakfast was a very quiet and subdued affair that morning.
Megan was in a bad way – which was understandable and everybody was trying to be close to her and to give her the space she needed – which was not easy. Dave said he would look after the twins and get them to school while I took Megan and Stephanie with me down to Safehouse F.
Megan needed a distraction.
Safehouse F
Megan had not said a word on the drive down.
Neither Stephanie, nor I, wanted to break the silence. When we arrived, I suggested to Stephanie that she take Megan upstairs to get themselves changed, ready for some exercise. I also wanted to get an update on the situation.
I found Marty in the Command Centre pounding away on his keyboard.
"What do we know?"
"The six dead gunmen were mercenaries. The CPD is still tracing back the money to see who hired them. Jack has ensured that we get a copy of any evidence and I'm doing my own searches. We have seven injured, with bullet wounds, but thankfully, nobody other than the gunmen were killed. How's Paige?"
"I've heard nothing since the early hours, but she and the baby were stable."
"Megan?"
"Only time will tell."
..._...
I headed downstairs to where I was expecting to find the girls. Only they were not training. Stephanie was sitting with her back against the wall and hugging Megan who was crying. As I entered, Stephanie smiled weakly.
I sat down on the other side of Megan and gently touched her arm. She turned to look at me and I had never seen her so miserable.
"Come on, let's get to work," I said, getting to my feet and pulling Megan with me.
"I can't focus..." Megan began.
Stephanie pulled Megan onto the mat and stopped dead centre. She smirked at me before she then turned to face Megan from a couple of feet away.
"Hit me!" Stephanie ordered.
"I told you I..."
Whack! Stephanie slapped Megan hard around the face.
"You..."
Whack!
"Act like a whiny bitch, get slapped like a whiny bitch!" Stephanie explained with a smile.
"Fuck you!" Megan growled back and I saw her expression change.
There followed a rapid thirty seconds of violent movements as both girls attacked each other before pausing to catch a breath.
"You're weak..." Stephanie growled at Megan.
There followed another brief assault on Stephanie, which she fought off reasonably well.
"Time to get your head in the game, Wildcat, so stop acting like a little pussy!" Stephanie laughed as she planted a kick on Megan's thigh before flipping the older girl on to her back.
Stephanie placed her foot on Megan's throat, pinning her to the mat.
"This nine-year-old girl just owned your ass!" She growled. "Your Mum's in hospital and she's hurt – but she's alive, so get with the programme and let's avenge her – got it?"
Megan looked a little surprised, but nodded as Stephanie removed her foot from her neck.
"I guess I deserved that – nice moves by the way!" Megan said as she got back to her feet.
"We're partners, you and I..." Stephanie reminded Megan.
Megan gave Stephanie a hug as Dave appeared.
"Can I interrupt this lesbian love fest for a moment?"
"Just getting Megan's mind focussed," I laughed as the two girls sprang apart and both glared at Dave. "You have obviously been telling Stephanie some of my tricks!"
Dave laughed. "Just a few!"
"What?" Megan asked pointedly getting the conversation back on track.
"You want to go see your Mom?" Dave asked. "Marcus rang – you can go to the hospital if you want."
"I'll be changed in thirty seconds!" Megan announced sprinting for the steps.