Page 95 of More Than a Hero
Robert nodded and followed Bertram into George’s apartment.
Pete and Jeremy rushed forward to Marty’s window again, still seeing Jimmy inside. “What happened?”
“Marty got hit in the head. Tamarcus dragged Angie outside and then back in because Bertram parked behind him and blocked his car. Now, he’s got her inside again. Tamarcus has a gun. He fired inside but didn’t hit me ’cause Ms. Angie pushed his arm. Then he fired again outside to scare everyone.”
Jeremy swore under his breath. Pete’s stomach clenched.
“Can we go through the back door here?” Jeremy asked, inclining his head toward Marty’s rear entrance
“No… it’s visible from the living room. This bathroom only leads to the bedroom.”
“Okay, come on out?—”
“No, you get in. I’ll stay here,” Jimmy insisted.
Pete didn’t have time to argue, so he crawled through the window, which was just barely big enough for a large man in full tactical uniform. Once in, he turned to Jimmy. “Give me the layout.”
“No halls in this place. Bedroom leads into the dining area. The kitchen is next to that and is open to the living room.”
Pete radioed the instructions to the other law enforcement. “Suspect. Male. Gang leader. Armed. He is in the end unit of Careway Senior Apartments. Maintain the lockdown at the Careway Assisted Living next door. Suspect has hostage. Female. In living room.”
He bent low to hold Jimmy’s gaze. “Get out of here now. You’ve done all you can. And you did good, man. Couldn’t have done better.”
Jimmy nodded, and Pete added, “Get out and go to George’s back door. The ambulance is on the way.”
With that, Jeremy helped Jimmy out the window before he climbed inside with Pete.
Jeremy turned to Pete. “You okay?”
“Not even close.”
Jeremy nodded. Then they moved forward, slowly opening the bathroom door. The bedroom was clear, and they stepped silently inside. From the living room, a male voice shouted and cursed.
Angie’s voice followed, muffled, tense but not panicked. No matter what happened in the next five minutes, Pete was going to get Angie out of there. Even if he had to walk through gunfire to do it.
Pete eased into the bedroom, shoulder brushing the doorframe, every sense on edge. The room was dim, lit only by the daylight seeping in through the curtains. He crouched low, eyes narrowing.
Tamarcus was pacing, cursing under his breath, his voice sharp and agitated. Pete couldn’t make out every word, but the tone said enough. Tamarcus knew he was backed into a corner.
Pete couldn’t see Angie. For one chilling beat, he feared the worst, but then Tamarcus stopped pacing, standing just at the edge of the window, holding the curtain open with two fingers as he peered out. His other hand still gripped the gun.
Pete tracked his movements, slow and quiet, staying in the shadows. Then Tamarcus said something, voice lower, directed downward. Pete’s chest tightened.She’s on the floor.
He shifted slightly, angling himself for a better view. Tamarcus leaned again toward the curtain, peeking through the edge, just a sliver. He was probably watching the squad cars forming a perimeter beyond the garden and seeing his precious plan go up in smoke.
Pete’s pulse beat steadily in his ears. His body was still, calm, but his mind calculated every inch of cover, every second between movement and engagement. He glanced back, caught Jeremy’s eyes, and gave the hand signals. Behind him, Jeremy crept back into the bathroom. A beat later, Pete heard the faintest murmur of Jeremy whispering into the radio.
“Suspect still armed. Standing near the front window. Civilian female hostage on the floor. Hold position. Standby for breach.”
Pete moved into position behind the bedroom doorframe, raising his service weapon slowly. He was angled just enough to see Tamarcus’s profile and the gun in his hand—but Angie was still out of view.
Then suddenly he could see her. She shifted while still on the floor and turned her head, just enough for their eyes to meet. Even from across the room, Pete could see the fear flash in her eyes, but then hope.
He couldn’t risk spooking Tamarcus but prayed she’d understand.Stay down, sweetheart. Just a few more seconds.
Tamarcus turned from the window again and resumed pacing. He muttered louder now, swearing about “this hick-ass town” and how “nobody gets to screw up my deal, not after everything I worked for.” He stopped in front of Angie, his shoes just inches from her.
Pete’s finger tightened slightly on the trigger.
