Blinded
Chapter 28
The closing of the door and the sound of the bullet echoed in Jack's mind, his ears ringing with the sound of it. He wanted to scream but nothing came out. He sat stunned and speechless. As he closed his eyes, Jack pictured her body as it must lay, blood seeping from the wound. Was it quick as Sammy had promised? Was she now gone, in heaven, waiting for him? Or by some miracle, is she just feet away, bleeding beyond his reach.
Jack was waiting to hear the other door open. He knew Sammy would somehow have to go back around, and not knowing the layout of this building beyond what he sensed upon his initial capture a couple of days ago. Would Sammy kill him as quickly? Would he bring him into the room where Sue's body lay so he fell next to her? In which park would their colleagues find them in? Or would Sammy do something else to dispose of their bodies.
The questions wouldn't stop in his mind.
Sue was dead.
Sue was dead.
He couldn't fathom it. All the while the situation felt hopeless, it was another reality to know that she was gone.
Sue was dead.
Those three words now muddled his thoughts. He no longer struggled against the restraints.
-STFBE-
The drive to the industrial area was silent. Myles was driving his SUV, D in the passenger seat next to him. Bobby was sitting in the back with Tara. He had been told he was not to be involved with any engagement but could stay with Tara while the active agents breached.
Bobby's knee was bouncing frantically, Tara noticed. A bounce that had nothing to do with the movement of the car but of clear nervousness. She could see the shadow under his eyes and how he rubbed his right shoulder with his left hand when he thought no one was watching.
They all felt they were on the brink of everything coming to an end. Pete Hadley was in custody. They had a lead on where Jack and Sue were being held. They just needed to find them alive and get them both to safety, and capture Hadley's accomplice.
None of the vehicles had lights or sirens as they cautiously made their way towards the industrial complex. Being Saturday afternoon, it was desolate, but they saw a white van hastily parked in front of a heavy metal door with 116 over it. It was unclear what the building was used for, but it looked secure. They could only see one small window high on the wall with frosted glass and bars blocking it.
There were almost a dozen vehicles, including Myles and Greg's SUVs, several SWAT vehicles and two ambulances. They winced as the gravel made noise and carefully got out of the vehicle, moving towards the SWAT van and the control station they had set up. Tara quickly moved over, setting her laptop on a nearby table and nodding to a colleague she knew with the swat team.
D motioned to Bobby to sit, but Bobby remained standing, staring at the door into the building. This had to be the right place, he thought. Multiple SWAT officers were keeping their guns trained on that door while others went around the building. He saw the ones who went around back return and signal back to them.
Myles and D were busy putting on their bullet proof vests, along with Emma and Greg. Daniel had been left back at the bullpen, much to his dismay. The head SWAT agent went over to update Greg and Emma who turned back to the team.
"It looks like there is only one entrance. Here at the front." Greg confirmed, checking his gun.
"Are we sure anyone is inside?" Emma nodded. "We can't be certain, but the SWAT team saw the blue vehicle belonging to Ms. Baker out back. We don't have any layout of the building, but having only the one entrance and no windows should make this easier." Tara spoke up.
"I'm still getting a faint signal from what I imagine is Hadley's phone, and it's within a 1 km radius. I think we're in the right place."
"We breach in one minute." Greg called out quietly. Everyone started to move into place. "We need to do this quick. We believe there is one suspect and two hostages. He is likely armed and very dangerous. He may do something rash once he knows we're coming." Bobby continued to stand, watching the door.
"Bobby…" Tara called to him. He barely turned. "You need to stay here." He fully turned and looked at her before looking back towards the door.
"I know." He said quietly as he watched Greg, with Myles and D close behind along with 2 SWAT agents.
-STFBE-
There was a stench as they managed to ram the first door open. The building was dark and dank as they moved their way into the first hallway. The air smelled stale and of death. Myles had smelt that smell too many times before. He felt his pulse race with adrenaline. Not just from the task at hand, which he always felt, but in desperation as he kept his eyes peeled for any sign of Sue and Jack. They came upon two doors, both unlocked. One swat member took the lead as Greg and Emma nodded to Myles and D that they would go their separate ways. Time was ticking and fear grew as they had yet to run into anyone.
Suddenly, they thought they heard Jack's voice calling out Sue's name. Myles and D quickly looked at each other before trying to breach through another door.
-STFBE-
Jack didn't know whether minutes had passed or hours. Time stood still. The aches he felt in his body were nothing compared to the ache he felt deep within. He thought he heard banging against the other door. He waited for Sammy to burst through, but he didn't come. Maybe he was going to make him starve to death or wanting him to linger in his pain of losing Sue before he could end his life.
The banging continued, he noted from both doors, and he looked up. That didn't make sense –Sammy was alone. He thought he heard his name, and it wasn't Sammy's voice.
Within moments, a SWAT agent rushed through the one door, followed quickly by Greg and Emma, whom Jack recognized immediately. He just sat there, unable to grasp what they were saying to him. Jack's ears were still ringing with the sound of Sue's death.
It didn't take long for them to open the other door and Myles and D to flood in, their faces grim.
"Jack…" He heard them say softly, but Jack didn't respond. He couldn't even make eye contact. He felt overwhelmed with guilt and shame.
Minutes. They had missed saving her by minutes. He barely felt someone untying his binds, freeing him as he had been trying for over two days. Jack just slumped forward. He saw mouths moving but couldn't bring himself to move or get up. He just wanted to crawl on the floor and lay there on the concrete. Lay there on the unforgiving cold floor like she was.
Within a few moments, he saw Bobby's panicked face in front of him.
"Come on, mate. We need to get you out of here." Bobby moved and got Jack to his feet, using his left side. Somehow Jack found the strength to stand, though his legs felt numb and weak from the days of being restrained and lack of any food. Myles and D stood closely behind while Greg and Emma stood watching the group.
"Be careful not to touch anything" Emma warned. D nodded. They didn't want anything that could compromise their case against Pete Hadley.
Jack's eyes were blurry as Bobby helped lead him out the door, the door where Sammy had led Sue. To the room where he had killed her.
Jack didn't want to look, but his eyes desperately sought her body. There were multiple agents already in the space, the body covered by a black tarp and small yellow evidence markers already being set up by a forensic team. Jack's knees buckled. Myles had to rush forward to help Bobby with the full weight of Jack against him. Jack wasn't sure if it was the exhaustion, the pain or tears as he kept staring at the black tarp.
"Jack, don't look." Myles said painfully. "Don't look. Let's get you checked out. This is the quickest way out. Come on."
Jack went blank. He let his three colleagues guide him to the exit. He stepped outside into the fresh air, the sun blinding him. He barely saw the paramedics rush towards him, stretcher in tow, Tara following closely behind, her eyes full of tears. Jack collapsed onto the stretcher and felt himself being guided into the back of the ambulance, Bobby faithfully at his side.
He witnessed Bobby give Tara's hand a quick squeeze before jumping in the back of the rig with him. Jack closed his eyes. The pain was too much.