Page 26 of Target Acquired
“We’re ready to move when you give us the word.”
“Have at it.”
Cole pressed the comms tighter into his ear. “All right. Let’s get some eyes on the situation. Cross, go.”
James nodded and followed the command, darting forward, ready to use the small camera to help them get some feedback on the situation. Cole scanned the area once more. Buildings gone the way of the mental institution stood silent and still, windows like eyes that had seen too much of life and had checked out when the junkies checked in.
Usually, the place was a beehive of some kind of illegal activity but was now a ghost town, thanks to the law enforcement presence.
Just in front of James, a window shattered and a grenade rolled to a stop.
“Grenade!” Cole’s shout echoed.
But his friend and teammate was already diving behind the cover of a big metal dumpster. Cole threw himself behind the nearest police vehicle and slammed his palms over his ears. Less than a second later, the grenade exploded with a boom that sent debris flying.
SIX
Kenzie and the others had taken cover behind Dolly, thinking the shattering glass was caused by bullets, not an explosive. Her ears were ringing despite the distance they’d been from the blast.
But James . . .
And Cole . . .
She gathered her wits, scrambled to her feet, and darted to the side of the tactical vehicle and scanned the scene. A small crater in the concrete smoked, but no bodies were nearby. “Report in, everyone,” she ordered.
“I’m good.” James ducked out from behind the dumpster, looking none the worse for wear.
But where was Cole?
“We’re going to have to go in.” Cole’s voice came through her comms as though he heard her silent thought.
She vaguely registered surprise that she could hear through the ringing. “James? You sure you’re good? You were closest.”
“I’m a little deafened, but all in one piece.”
“Thank God,” she thought she heard Cole whisper. Then his voice came back louder. “You know the formation. Let’s go.”
She and the others crept forward, weapons gripped tight, caution in every rigid muscle. Where there was one grenade, there could always be more.
The hostage negotiator was on the megaphone. “Come on, won’t you pick up the phone?” They’d tossed one inside and gotten a hand grenade as a thank-you.
While the negotiator kept trying for contact, Cole stepped from behind the police car and fell in with them.
“Don’t shoot me!”
The young voice came from inside the building. Cole held up a hand and everyone froze.
Then shots came from across the street.
Greene yelped and spun, but stayed on his feet and turned to fire behind him while he ducked behind an old forklift parked up against the side of the building.
Another spate of pops split the air.
Buzz screamed and went down. Otis barked. The officers behind them hollered and continued to return fire.
“Take cover! Take cover!”
Cole’s shout echoed through the chaos, but Buzz was on the ground. Kenzie darted toward the man, grabbed his good arm, and yanked him to his feet with adrenaline-born strength.