Chapter 2

The shots rang out and Rex bolted back the way they had come. Charlie ran after him, not wanting Rex to jump into something when they had no idea what was going on. Upon reaching the now closed front door, they found Constable Stevens writhing in pain.

"You, ok?" Charlie asked.

"He got me in the vest, I think," Stevens said. Charlie checked him over and immediately noticed blood coming out of the officer's lower leg. He also noticed two gunshots to the back as the bullets were lodged in the constable's bulletproof vest. The shooter had snuck up the officer from the backyard, which is why Charlie hadn't seen anyone when he came back up the driveway.

"We need a tourniquet for your leg. Come on," Charlie helped Stevens to his patrol car where an emergency kit could be found. He popped open the back door and helped Stevens get inside before grabbing the kit, which was located between the two front seats.

"Call for backup. Just your partner is in there with forensics, right?" The detective wanted to know as he applied the tourniquet. Stevens grimaced and Charlie was impressed he didn't cry out. Applying the medical device was always painful to go along with what could be broken ribs from the shots to the vest.

"Right. Constable Gadhavi, along with most of the forensics team. I don't know if the shooter knows if my partner is in there," as soon as the words came out of the constable's mouth more shots rang out. Rex whined; he wanted to get in there.

"Call for backup, now!" Charlie was harsher than he wanted to be. Stevens reached for his radio and did what he was told while Charlie and Rex tried to find the nearest window so they could see inside the house. Seeing that the open ones were the only ones with easy access to the living room crime scene, they moved around to the front of the house. Crouching below those windows, Charlie called out,

"SJPD! I need you to come out with your hands up!"

"I'm not going to do that!" A male voice called back.

"Why not?! If we end this now, then we might be able to work this out! No one's been seriously hurt, right?!" Charlie called. He hoped that it wasn't true but he was getting a feeling in the pit of his stomach that it was true.

"I wouldn't say that!" The response came back. At that Charlie paled.

"Then we need to get them medical attention as soon as possible! If you show compassion, then we can work with that!" The detective tried to remain calm. Meanwhile, Rex realized that the side door was partially open, probably so the forensics team could analyze any comings and goings from the front of the home and check the windows. Charlie knew what the dog was thinking and at this point, his partner was having the same thought.

"I just wanted him to listen to me! He had those pictures! Why wouldn't he just give them to me?!" The voice called out. Suddenly the picture of the victim became a little clearer and Charlie didn't like it. He watched Rex sneak in the side door.

"The officers in there didn't have anything to do with that! They just want to go home to their families!" Charlie was hoping that he was keeping the person distracted while Rex did his thing.

"Those pictures get out and I won't have a family!" This man was clearly in crisis and that's when Charlie heard a familiar voice,

"This man hurt you. I can see that. We don't want to hurt you. We're just here to figure out who this man was and give anyone who knew him, the answers they seek." It was Sarah. She was trying to distract him too. The problem was that the sounds of sirens could now be heard through the open windows. That backup was coming in fast. Officers were in trouble.

"No! No! You called for help!" The man exclaimed. Suddenly, Charlie heard Rex bark. He ran from the window and through the side door. He was just in time to watch Rex take down the man but as they fell to the floor, the gun in the man's hand went off. Charlie rushed over and quickly cuffed the intruder.

"Anyone hurt?" Charlie asked. Rex barked in response and the detective looked up. Sarah had this look on her face. A look that would not leave him for the rest of his days.

"Sarah!" He watched her fall to the side, blood soaking her white sweater. Charlie wanted to leap to her but he had to make sure the man who shot her was completely secured.

"I've got him, go!" It was Constable Gadhavi, who had been sitting on the floor, leaning against the kitchen island. Her weapon was feet away from her on the floor. She'd not been able to get a shot off before the man had surprised them. Worse still, she'd obviously been shot in the vest as she was breathing through clenched teeth. More than likely, she had some broken ribs, and a possible punctured lung, which meant moving was a new expression of pain. Despite all of that, she was still trying to do her job. Charlie whipped off his jacket and pressed it against the wound in Sarah's stomach.

"Charlie…" his name barely came out above a whisper.

"Don't waste your strength. Hang on, backup is coming," that word set Rex off and he ran outside. The sounds of his barking for help seemed to drown out the sounds of the sirens which had arrived at the scene.

Officers rushed in and Charlie shouted for someone to get medics. They had two officers down. The paramedics weren't far behind the incoming officers and they tried to push him out of the way to help Sarah. Finally, he let go, afraid that it would be the last time he'd be able to touch her.

"You coming with us?" The paramedic asked as they loaded Sarah onto a gurney. The moments were whizzing by and Charlie realized he needed to snap out of it.

"I'm coming," he said but then he heard Rex bark. He couldn't leave his partner here.

"Follow right behind us," the paramedic told him, despite being unsure the detective should drive. They all rushed out of the house and Charlie hoped it would all be in time to save the woman he loved.

To Be Continued…