Fighting Back

Stepping out of his office, the captain sees the sergeant and his detection working at their desk. He glances at the clock on the faded white wall. He sighs as he shakes his head. They should've gone home hours ago but are determined to see this thing through. The next thought brings a smile to the captain's face. At least I know the department will be well taken care of when I leave. When I go, he repeats somberly. The captain's eyes fill with tears as pleasant memories come to mind.

He first thinks about all the rookies he's trained through the years. He then recalls the few that he's helped build their career. A few of the perps they've taken down suddenly comes to mind. He looks around again. I've had a good run in this place. He remembers what the old captain said when he moved up in rank and chuckles to himself. I've lasted a lot longer than you thought. I only wish you were around to see it. The man he replaced was a bitter, old oaf who needed to leave decades before. He glances around again. All the time I was here will only make me miss this place and everyone in it more.

He then recalls his sickly wife confined to her bed. Millie needs me at the house more than they do here. Her condition is declining rapidly, and the doctor believes she'll pass soon. I've had fifty wonderful years with the old gal. Fifty years five kids, fifteen grandkids, and three greats later, we're forced to part ways. Gulping back his emotions threatening to escape, he walks across the room. His voice shakes with every word."How's the manhunt going?" He asks, trying to keep his emotions at bay. The one thing he didn't want was for his men to see him cry.

Joe glances up from his report. "We have roadblocks set up at every road leading out of the city and an APB out on them and their car."

The captain nods. "Have you contacted public transportation yet?"

"They are all aware, Sir."

"I showed the victim a photo array, and he picked her out of the bunch," Jerry adds.

Remembering how ruthless she can be, the captain smiles inwardly. "How bad did Rachel let you have it about being right again?"

Jerry glances over at the sergeant, snickers, and says, "The chicken hasn't told her yet."

"You haven't told me what?" Rachel asks, strolling up behind them.

The captain smiles. "Do you want to do the honors, Joe, or should I?"

"I think he should do it, sir. It'll humiliate him more having to admit he was wrong.

Joe glares at his detective. Jerry snickers.

"Noticing Joe's hesitation, the captain begins. "It turns out you were right all along."

"Right about what, sir?" Rachel asks, glancing curiously between her partners. She had a good idea about what he was talking about but wanted the satisfaction of hearing it.

Expecting the worst, Joe nervously shifts his weight.

Ava isn't the killer her sister is." Smiling at Joe, the captain continues, "It seems that she's been framing her twin. From what we gather, that was her plan from the start."

"You don't say." Smiling, Rachel turns toward her superior. She pokes Joe in the chest as she enunciates every word. "I told you so, wise guy."

Joe looks over at his superior, a sad look on his face. "Thanks a lot, sir."

The captain chuckles. "Think of this as a payback for all the hell you've given me through the years." Smiling, he turns towards his detective and says, "Go ahead, Rachel, give it to him again, and then give him some more."

"Oh, she will, sir, believe me, she will."

"It serves you right, pulling all the pranks you have."

"I have to break the monotony in this place somehow," Joe argues

The captain rolls his eyes. "I can think of better ways than that."

Rachel's eyes twinkle. An ornery smile etches across her face.

Joe is fixing to get it good. The captain thinks, chuckling to himself. He looks over to find Jerry chuckling in his seat. He turns and says, "I hope Rachel gives you hell too."

"But I'm innocent, sir."

"Yeah, right. You haven't been innocent since the day you were born, and it's even questionable then."

***

Tears stream down Jackie's face as she tries to force the humid air into her lungs. The much-needed oxygen remains trapped in her throat no matter how hard she tries. She begins to feel dizzy and light-headed from being oxygen-deprived for so long. Her mouth and throat feel like she hasn't had anything to drink in weeks.

Glaring into her eyes, the attacker says, "You thought I wouldn't find out who ratted on me, didn't you, Jackie? But like I told you before, I have eyes everywhere. I even have a few cops on my side. Laughing, the hefty thug tightens his grip around her neck.

Confused by his statement, Jackie looks up to find a familiar face staring her down. A horrifying realization comes to mind. My past has come back to haunt me like they warned about. Her friends said all the bad karma she's putting out in the world would come back to get her threefold. "I...I can explain, she tries to say, but her words come out as soft, meaningless sounds.

Granny continues to fight for control of her cane beside her partner, but the relentless man has a firm grip on her cane. She looks over to find Jackie's face turning a purplish-blue. I have to do something quickly. "I'm sure she's sorry for whatever it was she did to you," she says as she continues to fight for her cane.

"Sorry isn't going to bring my little brother back, and it sure as hell won't replace the time I lost locked away," he hisses through decaying teeth.

"I'll do whatever you want to make it right, just please don't hurt her," Granny begs, watching her partner fade into the abyss.

"The only thing I want is for her to die.

Granny glances at her partner to find Jackie's eyes close. I've got to get us out of this, save Jackie somehow. With all the strength she can muster, she gives one hard tug. Her cane flies out of the man's hands. Twirling it around, Granny plunges the weapon into her attacker's face.

The man grabs his bloody nose as he stumbles back.

Propping her cane on her shoulder, Granny pulls the trigger. An ice bullet flies out of the gun, making its way into the second attacker's neck. The impact causes him to tumble to the ground.

"You bitch," He screams, struggling to get to his feet.

Realizing she's free, Jackie gulps in all the precious air she can.

Hearing footsteps behind her, Granny turns, aims, and shoots.

"You missed, you old bat." Her attacker laughs

She throws her door open—the metal pings against his boney body, knocking the guy back.

The man tries to regain balance. His feet slip on the gravel, causing him to tumble to the ground.

Shoving the ice gun through the window, Granny pulls the trigger again. The bullet burrows its way into the man's chest. "I didn't miss that time, you ass," Granny hisses, pulling the trigger again and again.

The first invader takes a shaky step toward them. Blood continues to spew from the side of his neck, pooling on the ground around him.

The man becomes dizzy and light-headed. The world around him blurs. His legs get weaker with every labored step. "You're not getting away with this," he says, struggling to move toward them. The goon stumbles forward, then wobbles back and forth. Steadying himself, he tries to take another step, but his thin, frail body folds to the ground instead.

Granny Betty hears a noise beside her. She looks over to find a third man running their way. "Go, Go," she yells, watching the new arrival pick up speed. Realizing her partner hasn't moved, Granny looks over to see Jackie in a daze. "Jackie," Betty yells, shaking her. Her partner's head swings back and forth like a bobblehead.

With her head still in a fog, Jackie slowly turns her way.

"Go, go, Granny anxiously repeats. Shoving the cane through the window, she aims and shoots.