Page 66 of Samuel's Heart

That’s when I notice one of his hands is behind his back, and that puts me on edge.

“Can you show me your hands?” I ask, in a calm and, I hope, commanding voice.

He takes his time before showing me his hands, but I’m not happy about it.

“Please, turn around. Show me your back.”

If looks could kill, I’d be dead by now. I keep my eyes on him and repeat my request.

“Turn around.” The challenging look he gives me suddenly disappears, and darkness spreads across his face. He moves his hand to his back again, and I reach for my baton and my pepper spray. The hair on my body stands up, as if it knows something is going to happen.

I never ignore my gut, and right now, it’s telling me to be ready. Another glint appears when he removes his hands from behind his back and the sun hits the blade.

“Knife!” I shout, so Adrian is aware, and I jump back when he tries to stab me.

“Fuck.” Adrian’s voice carries a worry I’ve never heard before. “Radio. Knife situation, please send armed officers.”

“Ten seventy-six.” After a few long seconds, radio confirms they are en route.

I use my baton and the spray to keep the man with the knife away, but as suddenly as the assault started, it stops. The suspect runs into the park.

I look at Adrian, and he nodes.

“Ten eighty.” He confirms to dispatch that we are in pursuit.

“Ten sixty-nine. Be careful.”

We can’t leave an armed person walking the streets. We won’t engage, as that’s an armed police job, but we will keep track of his movement until they’re here and can intervene.

Why is this happening when I only have three days to go?

I run after the guy, and I hear Adrian asking the other patrol to take care of the rest of the group while he comes after me.

“Sam, be careful.”

“Okay,” I say, my speed surging as I close in on the suspect.

He exits the park, and I follow, because it’ll be difficult to keep people safe if he gets to the main street, but I’m glad when he enters an alley. I slow down because I don’t want to be unprepared. But, at the same time, I don’t want to lose him and have someone killed because I didn’t do my job.

My hands are trembling, and I’m sweating profusely. The sounds of my breathing and the beating of my heart are like a thunderstorm in my ears, making me unable to hear almost everything around me.

I listen carefully, seeing if I can hear footsteps, but an eerie silence has descended on this part of the city. I take a deep breath, trying to calm myself down and move forward. I take a step inside the alley, making sure to look right and left. I take another, and then another, moving further into the dark street,ensuring I don’t make any noise. I’m sure he’s hiding here, and I don’t want to be caught by surprise.

“Sam.” Adrian’s low voice reaches me and gives me courage. It has been dripping away from me since I started the crazy pursuit of the knife man.

“Here,” I whisper, and for a split second, turn back towards the entrance to check if Adrian is close.

“Sam!” Adrian’s scream makes me jump and whip my head forward to see what’s happening in front of me.

I freeze, unable to move, and watch, like I’m in a trance, as the man raises his hand and quickly brings it down. I close my eyes, expecting the knife to pierce me. Instead, I’m hit by something and crash to the ground, hitting my head in the process. The pain and ringing in my brain and ears make me nauseous, but I force my eyes open. The poor light nearly makes me sick.

A weight is on top of me, and through blurry eyes, I recognise Adrian. I look around to locate the assailant, but I can’t see him anywhere. My attention goes back to Adrian, still on top of me and with his eyes closed. What gets to me is his breathing, fast and pained.

I look around again, checking to see if the knife man is still here, but it’s only me and my mentor.

“Adrian?” I say, but he doesn’t move. I touch his shoulder, but he doesn’t reply, and when I pull my hand back, it’s drenched with blood.

“Ten fifty-two,” I scream into the radio. “Officer down. Please be quick,” I plead with them. I don’t even know if they reply to me, because my all focus is on Adrian.

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