Operation Vanished by Helen C. Escott

Author:Helen C. Escott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flanker Press
Published: 2021-06-17T12:49:40+00:00

16

Staff Sergeant Michaels was crouched down behind the trunk of his patrol car. His nine-millimetre pistol was pointed at the main door of the elementary school, his eye searching for movement. Corporal McNaughton pulled her patrol car in next to his, creating a barricade in front of the school. They were the first two to respond to shots fired. She drew her weapon as she slid out of the front seat and took a position next to Michaels.

She pressed the button on her portable and told Telecoms she was on site. “What do we have confirmed so far?”

Michaels never took his eye from his line of sight. “One, possibly two shooters. One shot fired. No demands. No information on victims.”

A Telecoms operator reported, “Staff Michaels, this is Ramona. I’ll be your point of contact. The emergency response team’s ETA is ten minutes.”

McNaughton crouched down and pointed her pistol toward a side entrance. “Are we waiting for ERT?”

“Telecoms has confirmed approximately two hundred and fifty elementary students and fifteen staff on site.” A bead of sweat rolled down Michaels’s temple.

The school bell, indicating a class change, rang as loud as a gunshot, and both their bodies stiffened at the sound. The soft murmur of children’s cries could be heard from the open windows.

Staff Sergeant Michaels reached up with his left hand and pressed the button on his portable. “Nine-seven, this is Four Bravo Two. Ramona, we can’t wait for ERT. We’re going in.” He looked toward McNaughton. “Are you ready?”

McNaughton glanced at him, then back to the door. “Say when.”

“Turn your portable up. The shooter may get distracted if he hears our radio and then focus on us, not the students.”

“Nine-seven, Four Bravo Two. Ramona, anything new on the shooter?” Michaels hoped for some information he could use to negotiate, if it came to that.

“Staff Michaels. We don’t have any information on the shooter. Criminal Operations says it could be a parent who is pissed about parental rights. We have no intel on his motive or weapons.”

Michaels pointed toward the main door. “Watch for children once we get inside. A child who spots us could scream and give our location away.”

McNaughton nodded at him. “Ten-four.”

“It’s very likely he’s suicidal. He wants us to do it, or he’ll do it himself when he hears us closing in.” Michaels watched the front door for movement. “Ready?” he asked again, and McNaughton nodded.

“Nine-seven, Four Bravo Two. We’re going in. Keep feeding us information.”

They moved in unison toward opposite sides of the school entrance. Once in position, Michaels looked at McNaughton. “I’ve got your back.”

“I’ve got your back, too.” McNaughton could hear her heart beating as a fight-or-flight sensation ran through her veins. Fight. That’s what she was trained to do. A strange calm came over her as they entered the building.

Ramona came back over the portable. “It’s been fifteen minutes since the shot was fired. ERT’s ETA is seven minutes.”

Michaels kept a direct line of sight with McNaughton. He pointed at himself and then the door.

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