Page 90 of Fracture

“Nothing on our side,” Joshua said.

“Ours was quiet,” Hannah said.

“He’s in the back,” Paul said. He nodded to Molly. “We saw him with all the hostages in a sitting area. One gun. Can’t have much left in it.”

“Do you think we can breach?” Joshua asked.

Damien shook his head. “Too many unknowns. The library has alarms that will tell him if we open the front door.”

“Seriously?” Hannah asked.

Damien nodded. “It’s supposed to be so employees know when someone comes in. It’s a big library and if they’re helping someone or in the office, they can’t see the door, so they added a chime of sorts to let them know when someone walks in.”

“There has to be a way we can get in there,” Molly said. “What about the sides where no one saw anything?”

“That’s possible,” Damien said. “But if the windows are locked or sealed, we’d have to break one, and he’d hear that.”

“But it’s worth trying,” Molly said.

“Everything is worth trying. We need a team to watch him, or create a distraction. Something to make sure he doesn’t sneak up on whoever is trying to get inside.”

“I’ll go in,” Vinnie volunteered. He looked at Joshua, who nodded.

“We’ll watch the shooter,” Molly said.

“Be ready to take him out if you need to,” Damien said.

Molly and Paul both nodded and checked their weapons.

“Want us to create a distraction?” Hannah asked, slapping Eric, her partner, on the vest.

“Probably not a bad idea. But what kind of distraction will draw him away and not spook him?” Damien asked.

They all tossed out ideas until they agreed Hannah and Eric would be tasked with staging an accident on the road behind the library. It had to be loud, and they had to get into it if it was going to draw the shooter’s attention.

Damien got approval for the plan, then they all got into position. Hannah and Eric were going first, staging the accident to get the shooter’s attention. As soon as Molly and Paul confirmed the shooter was distracted, Vinnie and Joshua were going in through windows on the side.

Vinnie crouched below the windows next to Joshua. They had to test the windows to find one they could enter through. Molly and Paul were the lookouts, and with their word, it was go time. Whether they found an open window or not, the plan was set.

“Shooter is on our side. Screaming at someone. Looks like he’s losing it. We need to move, boss,” Molly said through their comms.

“Team one, are you ready?” Damien asked.

Vinnie shook his head. “We don’t have a window to go through.”

“He’s swinging the gun around,” Paul said. “He’s gonna start shooting, boss.”

“Team two, go,” Damien said, giving the order for Hannah and Paul to create the diversion.

Vinnie and Joshua moved along the wall, testing windows to find one they could use to breach.

“Got a window,” Joshua said. “Let us know when we can go in.”

Vinnie moved to where Joshua was as soon as the crash happened on the road. Joshua pried the window open, a loud squeak making him pause.

“Stop,” Paul said. “Shooter heard the window.”

“Team two, get louder,” Damien commanded.