| Mystery and Crime Fiction posted November 1, 2020 | Chapters: |
...7 8 -9- 10... 
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The Atlanta PD take down a large trafficking ring.
A chapter in the book Where Are All The Children
Historical Take down
by Mistydawn
The squad room is packed full of anxious officers waiting to carry out their assigned tasks. This is going to be the biggest bust in Atlanta history and everyone wants to be a part of it.
A nervous tension blankets the room. The officers have had extensive training for situations like this, but understand a lot can go wrong when you're taking down a crime ring. Especially one where high-ranking officials play a big part in it.
"Is there anyone who doesn't have an assignment?" the captain asks. When no one answers he continues. "Everyone has their vests, correct?" The team nods. Remember to follow proper police procedure to the letter. I don't want them to get off on a technicality. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," they say in unison.
"You need to find your assigned sergeant for further instructions." Wanting to hit them hard and fast to avoid possible tip offs, the FBI agreed to use his men instead of waiting for more of their own to arrive.
There's a lot of whispering as everyone heads for the door. "Stay safe out there, and remember to follow your training." the captain adds.
***
With an arrest warrant in hand, Toni and Jamal, head towards their assigned house. Forest Park is a quiet suburb ten minutes south of Atlanta. It affords the residents access to the city while still giving them a peaceful, community feel.
They turn onto Ash Street to find the FBI vehicles encompassing the house.
Toni shakes her head. "There goes that idea." The DA specifically asked for no-knock warrants on the dozen suspects. Their plan was to serve them quietly, within the hour to lessen the chance of a tip-off.
"You know how the feds are. They send twenty men in to do a one-man job."
"I just hope he didn't see them and warn the others or hurt the girls."
Climbing out of the car, Toni heads towards the captain. "I thought we were going to go in quick and light, sir?"
A puzzled expression crosses his face. He looks around and says, "We are." Pointing to a few of his agents he continues, "You guys, Jamal I want you to cover the outside. The rest of you follow me."
With their guns drawn, the team shuffles to the house. Two agents and the detective line up on either side of the entryway. The fourth makes his way to the center of the porch, battering ram in hand. He glances at his superior, the captain nods. The cop slams the heavy object against the fire-red barrier. The door crashes against the wall. One officer races across the foyer, the other dashes to the right, leaving Toni with the upstairs.
Reaching the first room off the hall, Agent Donaldson, opens the door and takes a quick look around. There are cereal boxes on the table, dirty bowls scattered across the top, various plates and dishes are strung out across the counter top, but not a soul in sight. Guess they're too busy with the girls to clean up. He hears voices in the adjoining room. He cautiously works his way towards the door. With his back against the wall separating the two living quarters, he listens for the different voices. There's three, maybe four in there, he thinks. Holding his gun in front of him, he swings around. "Freeze, police." He finds the room empty. He then sees the TV is on. There are a few clothes tossed here and there, but like the other room, it too is unoccupied. Hearing footsteps on the far side of the room, he pivots towards the noise. Realizing it's his partner, he lowers his weapon. He reaches for his radio and says, "The downstairs is clear, sir."
With her gun drawn, Toni slowly walks up the grand staircase, keeping her back against the wall as she goes.
A young girl starts to step onto the stairs when she sees the strange lady with a gun. Her eyes widen, she opens her mouth to scream.
Lowering her weapon, Toni sprints to the landing. She lifts her fingers up to the young girl's lips leans over and says, "I'm with the police." She points at her badge and then whispers, "Where is he?" The frightened youngster glances at a room farthest down the hall. Toni looks at the minor and then the room behind them. "I want you to stay in there until I tell you to come out, got it?" The girl shakes her head. She starts to leave, Toni grabs her arm and whispers, "Tell the others to stay in there too."
Nodding, she scampers off.
Once the child is out of harms way Toni continues across the beige carpet. The balcony is to the left of her, a large picture window to her right. A long corridor with several doorways straight ahead. She's halfway across the spacious area when the door squeaks open. Toni darts to the safety of the bare, bleach-white wall. She then eases around to where she's behind the corner that protrudes into the hall. The door closes, footsteps shuffle towards her. The detective readjusts the grip on her revolver and waits. The noise gets closer. That's it you sorry sack of crap, keep walking my way. When the person is a few steps away, Toni raises her gun.
Hearing a click, the youngster turns to find an officer beside her. She clenches her fists and screams.
Toni pulls her to the side. She covers her mouth and says "I'm with the police." The child gulps. Toni peeks around the corner and discovers the door is still closed. "Stay here."
She grabs Toni's arm. "He... He has my baby sister in there."
Toni turns to find two officers bolting up the stairs.
"The perp is down there with one of the girls. I have another victim in there." She points to the door on her left. A series of gunshots erupt from the room.
"Take cover," the captain yells. There's one final blast. The door flies open, a man tumbles onto the floor.
Toni looks up to find the young girl she just sent in has a gun pointed at the fallen man.
The child glances up, tears fill her sad hazel eye when she says, "He... He tried to kill us."
Lowering her weapon Toni cautiously walks towards her. "It's alright, honey, he can't hurt you any more."
"I didn't want to do it, I didn't, I didn't but I didn't want to die either." She falls into Toni's arms. A second officer reaches over and takes her gun away. He looks over to find several naked children huddled in the corner.
"If he's here then who's down there?" the captain asks.
"His brother." The young girl sniffles.
The officers race down the hall to find the elegant yellow-laced curtains blowing in the breeze. Looking out of the window, he sees a half-naked man running down the block.
The captain reaches for his radio. "Suspect on foot heading South on Ash Street. I repeat he's heading South on Ash Street. He's wearing jeans, white sneakers and no shirt."
"Copy that," Jamal replies.
The detective darts from the back of the house and tackles the suspect to the ground.
"That's my partner." Toni laughs. She sits on the bed beside the sobbing child. Putting her arm around her, she draws her in close. "It's going to be alright now, honey, I promise."
"I wanna go home," the young girl cries, falling against the detective.
Toni glances up at the captain, he nods. "I'll see what we can do."
A nervous tension blankets the room. The officers have had extensive training for situations like this, but understand a lot can go wrong when you're taking down a crime ring. Especially one where high-ranking officials play a big part in it.
"Is there anyone who doesn't have an assignment?" the captain asks. When no one answers he continues. "Everyone has their vests, correct?" The team nods. Remember to follow proper police procedure to the letter. I don't want them to get off on a technicality. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir," they say in unison.
"You need to find your assigned sergeant for further instructions." Wanting to hit them hard and fast to avoid possible tip offs, the FBI agreed to use his men instead of waiting for more of their own to arrive.
There's a lot of whispering as everyone heads for the door. "Stay safe out there, and remember to follow your training." the captain adds.
***
With an arrest warrant in hand, Toni and Jamal, head towards their assigned house. Forest Park is a quiet suburb ten minutes south of Atlanta. It affords the residents access to the city while still giving them a peaceful, community feel.
They turn onto Ash Street to find the FBI vehicles encompassing the house.
Toni shakes her head. "There goes that idea." The DA specifically asked for no-knock warrants on the dozen suspects. Their plan was to serve them quietly, within the hour to lessen the chance of a tip-off.
"You know how the feds are. They send twenty men in to do a one-man job."
"I just hope he didn't see them and warn the others or hurt the girls."
Climbing out of the car, Toni heads towards the captain. "I thought we were going to go in quick and light, sir?"
A puzzled expression crosses his face. He looks around and says, "We are." Pointing to a few of his agents he continues, "You guys, Jamal I want you to cover the outside. The rest of you follow me."
With their guns drawn, the team shuffles to the house. Two agents and the detective line up on either side of the entryway. The fourth makes his way to the center of the porch, battering ram in hand. He glances at his superior, the captain nods. The cop slams the heavy object against the fire-red barrier. The door crashes against the wall. One officer races across the foyer, the other dashes to the right, leaving Toni with the upstairs.
Reaching the first room off the hall, Agent Donaldson, opens the door and takes a quick look around. There are cereal boxes on the table, dirty bowls scattered across the top, various plates and dishes are strung out across the counter top, but not a soul in sight. Guess they're too busy with the girls to clean up. He hears voices in the adjoining room. He cautiously works his way towards the door. With his back against the wall separating the two living quarters, he listens for the different voices. There's three, maybe four in there, he thinks. Holding his gun in front of him, he swings around. "Freeze, police." He finds the room empty. He then sees the TV is on. There are a few clothes tossed here and there, but like the other room, it too is unoccupied. Hearing footsteps on the far side of the room, he pivots towards the noise. Realizing it's his partner, he lowers his weapon. He reaches for his radio and says, "The downstairs is clear, sir."
With her gun drawn, Toni slowly walks up the grand staircase, keeping her back against the wall as she goes.
A young girl starts to step onto the stairs when she sees the strange lady with a gun. Her eyes widen, she opens her mouth to scream.
Lowering her weapon, Toni sprints to the landing. She lifts her fingers up to the young girl's lips leans over and says, "I'm with the police." She points at her badge and then whispers, "Where is he?" The frightened youngster glances at a room farthest down the hall. Toni looks at the minor and then the room behind them. "I want you to stay in there until I tell you to come out, got it?" The girl shakes her head. She starts to leave, Toni grabs her arm and whispers, "Tell the others to stay in there too."
Nodding, she scampers off.
Once the child is out of harms way Toni continues across the beige carpet. The balcony is to the left of her, a large picture window to her right. A long corridor with several doorways straight ahead. She's halfway across the spacious area when the door squeaks open. Toni darts to the safety of the bare, bleach-white wall. She then eases around to where she's behind the corner that protrudes into the hall. The door closes, footsteps shuffle towards her. The detective readjusts the grip on her revolver and waits. The noise gets closer. That's it you sorry sack of crap, keep walking my way. When the person is a few steps away, Toni raises her gun.
Hearing a click, the youngster turns to find an officer beside her. She clenches her fists and screams.
Toni pulls her to the side. She covers her mouth and says "I'm with the police." The child gulps. Toni peeks around the corner and discovers the door is still closed. "Stay here."
She grabs Toni's arm. "He... He has my baby sister in there."
Toni turns to find two officers bolting up the stairs.
"The perp is down there with one of the girls. I have another victim in there." She points to the door on her left. A series of gunshots erupt from the room.
"Take cover," the captain yells. There's one final blast. The door flies open, a man tumbles onto the floor.
Toni looks up to find the young girl she just sent in has a gun pointed at the fallen man.
The child glances up, tears fill her sad hazel eye when she says, "He... He tried to kill us."
Lowering her weapon Toni cautiously walks towards her. "It's alright, honey, he can't hurt you any more."
"I didn't want to do it, I didn't, I didn't but I didn't want to die either." She falls into Toni's arms. A second officer reaches over and takes her gun away. He looks over to find several naked children huddled in the corner.
"If he's here then who's down there?" the captain asks.
"His brother." The young girl sniffles.
The officers race down the hall to find the elegant yellow-laced curtains blowing in the breeze. Looking out of the window, he sees a half-naked man running down the block.
The captain reaches for his radio. "Suspect on foot heading South on Ash Street. I repeat he's heading South on Ash Street. He's wearing jeans, white sneakers and no shirt."
"Copy that," Jamal replies.
The detective darts from the back of the house and tackles the suspect to the ground.
"That's my partner." Toni laughs. She sits on the bed beside the sobbing child. Putting her arm around her, she draws her in close. "It's going to be alright now, honey, I promise."
"I wanna go home," the young girl cries, falling against the detective.
Toni glances up at the captain, he nods. "I'll see what we can do."
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