Page 89 of Fracture

“Why the fuck did you go after him?” Molly asked, slapping Vinnie’s shoulder.

“He’s talking shit,” Vinnie growled.

Arthur pushed the body bag, showing how easily he could have moved it if he wanted, then winked at Vinnie. It was all for fucking show, the asshole.

Vinnie started to go after Arthur, but Hannah and Molly held him back.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Hannah hissed. “He’s trying to get you kicked out.”

“He’s trying to get his ass kicked, is what he’s doing,” Vinnie snapped.

“And what’s that going to do?” Molly asked. “You kick his ass, and you lose your job. Do you really think that’s going to win you any favors with anyone?”

“I’m not trying to win favors,” Vinnie growled.

“Sure, but maybe you’re also trying to not lose your job,” Hannah said. “Stay away from Arthur. Let him be a dick to someone else.”

“Ready to roll?” Paul asked, walking by them and pointing to the situation room.

“We got a call?” Hannah asked.

“Yeah, Damien needs everyone in there in five,” Paul said. “Let’s go.”

Molly, Hannah, and Vinnie made their way to the locker room for a quick cleanup before they went to the situation room.

Damien was in front of the screen and nodded when the three of them joined the rest of the team. “We have a hostage situation. Local library. Domestic turned deadly. Before the cops got there and found the wife, the husband took off. Fired some shots when they came up on him, then ran inside the library. In the middle of story time.”

“How many hostages?” Molly asked.

“Thirty-two,” Damien said.

“Ages?”

“Toddler through seventies, from what we can tell.”

“What does he want?” Paul asked.

“A way out,” Damien said.

“What’s our plan?” Vinnie asked.

“Get as many hostages out as possible while the negotiators handle the shooter,” Damien said. “Anything else we figure out on the fly.”

The team nodded and followed Damien to the truck. Hannah drove with Damien up front. The rest of them were in the back, checking weapons and getting ready for anything.

Vinnie tried to get his head in the game, but Arthur fucked with it. Vinnie knew that was the entire point, but it pissed him off that he fell for it.

They pulled up to the library and filed out, waiting for their orders. It didn’t take long.

“Teams of two, make your way around the library. Recon only. Need to get eyes on the hostages and make sure everyone is okay. If you find a way to get them out, report back. Don’t be seen,” Damien said.

They paired off, and Vinnie and Joshua started to the right of the building. The solid brick exterior made it possible for them to get next to the building without being seen. Joshua went first, leading the way around their side of the building low, staying below the windows that let sunlight into the building on the other three sides.

Rows of shelves blocked their view of anyone inside the library. Chairs were close to the windows, but they were all empty. No one was visible between the shelves.

They kept moving along the side of the building, but had nothing valuable to report back. No hostages were visible, and neither was the shooter.

Vinnie and Joshua went back to their position at the front of the building to wait for instructions from Damien. When the other teams returned, they all reported.