Page 28 of Ranger's Rise
“Pres, there’s a problem at the jail. I have two Enforcer Teams on their way. They’ll hit a minute or two behind you.”
I flip my lid on and throw my leg over. “Roger, Vick,” Cort answers. I’ve never been second on a team, so not acknowledging is new.
“Get a Security Team readied to help so Enforcers aren’t spread so thin. I want at least one team out of there ASAP. Let VP know three Teams are engaged at the jail if something else hits while we’re in.”
“Roger, Boss. I’m telling VPifsomething else comes in.”
“Roger, Vick. You got it, Brother.”
The jail is in no man’s land just off town B. As we ride, I wonder why the towns are referred to as letters and not names. Since all we’re seeing is desert, I ask.
“The boards were new to some Enforcers and Security. Fucking cleanup was a mess. The third time I had to guide Teams to the right place, I labeled the whole county but our covered towns are A, B and C. Everyone calls them that so I’m not in Ops explaining how fucking boards work.”
“I didn’t know you ran Ops shifts too.” The fucking Brother does everything.
“I don’t anymore unless it’s tandem with the Council or I’m needed. Raid took me off the schedule because I let the Enforcers decide on bullets or laser. I think it should be their choice, he didn’t agree.”
“Shit. I hope he doesn’t have a problem with me. I tell them when to go live. Some pussies don’t deserve free room, medical and board.” Changing that is a hard-line for me, but I don’t tell him.
He takes it away. “I’m good with that. Fucking dickasses that make you work and run for them should be shot somewhere. I’d want to shoot them just to make the point. I came up with the dish because the Sheriff didn’t like putting deputies at the hospital on guard duty.”
I’m laughing again. Vick clicks in. “One out, Boss, Security is seven away, Enforcers are three.”
“Roger, Vick.” We turn and the jail walls look high and impenetrable. The alarms are loud even from here. We’re doing eighty on the straightaway then stop fast at the gate.
Cort takes his helmet off and I’m wondering why. “Phoenix Rising!” The helmet goes back on and the gate opens enough to ride single file into a courtyard. We pull to a second gate and he gets off his bike, so I follow.
“What’s the plan, Boss.”
He looks back. “Walk in, stop whatever fucking crazy they got going on and cover until everyone is in cells, the morgue or infirmary.” It sounds like he’s smiling.
Simple enough. “Roger, Boss.”
He laughs. A guard comes toward us in full battle gear. “The Kitchen, Laundry and yard have guards being held.”
“Two Enforcer Teams are one out. Let them in and have a guard for each team to get them in Laundry and the Kitchen. We’re headed to the yard. Let the warden know I’m here and to shut the fucking alarms off.”
“Yes, Sir. Wellington, get them to the yard,” the guard yells and a team starts running in front of us. We double-time it down the hall where the alarms are fucking louder.
At the yard Cort stops and we look around. It’s fucking chaos. Inmates are shooting up at the Team that got us here. Picnic tables are tipped and groups are behind them. Inmates are fighting each other all over the fucking place.The alarm goes off and I throw up a thanks for that at least.
The team in battle gear start shooting. Cort is pissed. “Stand down and wait in the hall! You don’t engage while Phoenix is in the house. I know those orders went out. Next one firing gets shot.”
I pull the MP from my back and point it at the guards. They back away with their hands up. They must have gotten the order again or maybe the sub machine gun changed their minds.
Cort is at a sniper opening and starts shooting the ground around the inmates. He doesn’t stop until his clip is empty. I point my gun while he reloads. He’s fast and starts talking.
“We can repeat everything I said the last time, or you can collect the weapons, throw them over the fence and line up against the wall.”
A couple of inmates point guns our way. “Left,” I tell him and shoot the two on the left. He takes the one on the right.
“Wrong answer. Move to the wall.You are inmates that are holding hostages. People will write stories about me for killing every fucking one of you and saving millions in taxpayer dollars. I’ll be the hero in that story and you’ll all be dead. That work for you, Ranger?”
“Am I in this story, Boss?”
He laughs. “Yeah, Brother. I’ll make sure they know you’re a Ross too. It will make it better.”
“I’m in,”I answer, but I think he’s serious and now see why everyone says he’s crazy. Because the dick in a dish isn’t enough for that. I mentally swing my head at myself.
