The Witching Hour Phone Call - 1. The Call

Julius was awakened by the phone ringing.

‘Damn him. He wants the phone on his side of the bed, but he never hears it.’

“Trevor, wake up.”

Nothing. Julius shoves Trevor.

“Huh?”

“Answer the phone.”

“Wha…”

“Answer the fucking phone.”

“Why’s the phone ringing?”

“I don’t know. Maybe if you answer it, you’ll find out.”

“Hello? … Why’s it still ringing?”

“Not your cell, the house phone.”

“Shit... Hello?”

The caller whispered, “You gotta help me!”

“Who is this?”

“Jerry.”

“Jerry who?”

“Parkington, from across the street.”

“Why the fuck are you calling me at, whatever fucking time it is? And speak up, I’m barely awake.”

Jerry responds, a little louder, but still quietly, “I need your help.”

“My handyman shop closed at six.”

“Trevor, there’s someone trying to get into the house.”

“So, call the cops.”

“What are you, a ballet dancer?”

“Alright. Lock yourself behind as many doors as possible and stay quiet, but leave this line open.”

“Okay.”

“Julius, keep an ear on this phone, I’ll call you on your cell from mine, but I won’t talk right away until I know it’s safe.”

“You got it.”

Trevor picked up his portable radio, “S-3 to dispatch.”

“Go, S-3.”

“Show me responding to a disturbance at 1572 North Carter Ave., possible breaking and entering, requesting backup.”

“Roger that, Sergeant Benton.”

Trevor threw on a pair of pants and shirt, grabbed his badge, strapped on his holster, slid the radio into its place, and headed out his front door, dialing Julius’ cell.

Julius answered, “I’m here.”

Trevor tapped a key, letting Julius know he heard him, then put his cell phone in his front left pocket.

He stepped onto his front porch and looked around. Not seeing anyone, he started across the street. He’d just reached the other side when he heard glass breaking on the right side of Jerry’s house. He quickly and quietly headed for that corner of the house and peered around the corner.

“Freeze! Police!”

Trevor saw a flash of metal as the man turned toward him. He backed away just before a shot was fired, hitting the corner of the house at chest height.

Stealth was out the window, he grabbed his radio, “S-3 here, shots fired. Where’s that backup?”

A long moment passed before the answer came, “O-1 ETA two minutes.”

“Roger that.”

Trevor dropped to the ground to look around the corner once more. Seeing no one, he stood and started around the corner again. Another shot rang out. This one hitting the house slightly in front of him, head high. He dropped to the ground once again and rolled back around the front of the house.

“S-3 to dispatch, have O-1 arrive dark and silent from the north. I’m at the southwest corner.”

“Roger, S-3.”

Another minute later, a patrol car pulled up to the curb. Trevor used hand signals to direct the officer to move to the front of the house before turning toward him. This kept the officer out of sight of the perpetrator.

“We’ve got at least one armed about halfway back on this side. Stay in the front as much as possible, but try to keep an eye on them. I’m going around to try to flank them. Give your radio two clicks if they make a move toward the back.”

“Roger, Sarge.”

Trevor worked his way quietly toward the left side of the house. Once again, seeing no one, he turned the corner. He safely reached the back corner of the house. He knelt and looked around to the back of the house. A second gunman fired a shot, hitting the house where his head would have been had he peeked standing up.

Trevor grabbed his radio, “Second shooter at the southeast corner. Hold your position, Owens.”

“Roger that, Sarge.”

“S-3 to dispatch.”

“Go, S-3.”

“Copy my last transmission?”

“Affirmative. Additional units en route.”

“Minimum of two active shooters. Advise using caution approaching scene. Unknown if more shooters exist.”

“Roger, S-3.”

“Owens, meet me at your vehicle.”

“Roger that.”

Owens started back toward her patrol car. Halfway across the front yard, another shot rang out.

“Arrrgh, I’m hit.”

Trevor, to his radio, “Officer down!”

Trevor got to the front corner, moved a bit away from the house, “Can you make your way to the car if I lay down some cover fire?”

“Yes.”

Trevor fired a shot toward the rooftop, “Go!”

Trevor fired again, hopefully keeping the perp on the roof from firing again on the officer. He saw Owens get to her car and get behind it. He shot again as he ran toward the car himself. The third shooter fell off the roof. Trevor’s random shot apparently hit the target.

“Where are you hit?”

“Left bicep. Pretty sure it went through.”

Trevor opened the car door and grabbed the first aid kit. He proceeded to wrap Owens’ arm as tightly as he dared.

“Hang in there. You’ll be okay.”

“It fucking hurts.”

“I know. I got one in almost the same spot a few years ago.

Within minutes, three more patrol cars and an ambulance arrived. Trevor briefed the newcomers.

“Three confirmed shooters. Apparently I hit the one on the roof, he landed on the front porch. No further movement there. Two more were on the south side of the house. Unless they went over fences, they’re still there. One sec.”

Trevor took his cell out of his pocket, “You there, J?”

“Yeah, Trev.”

“If Jerry can safely answer, check if he can tell if anyone made it into the house.”

“Okay.”

A minute later, Julius responded, “He didn’t answer.”

“Thanks.”

“S-3 to dispatch.”

“Go, S-3.”

“I had previous contract with the homeowner. Another attempt just now got no response. I think we should assume a hostage situation.”

He heard Julius through his Bluetooth connection, “Yeah, J?”

“I heard a crash, then a voice say ‘Hang up,’ and Jerry disconnected.”

“Shit. Thanks, J. You can disconnect, I’ll call back when I can.”

“K. Be careful.”

“Dispatch?”

“Go, S-3.”

“Confirm hostage situation, at least one perp is in the house. Single resident as far as I know.”

“Roger that. SWAT and HNT being contacted now.”

Trevor addressed the other officers who had arrived, “Now we wait for the Hostage Negotiating Team. I would like to know if the two on the south side are still there. But they’re trigger happy.”

One of the officers spoke up, “I can move up the street on the far side with the night vision glasses, flip it to thermal mode and see if there is a body or two there.”

“I don’t need another officer shot.” Trevor pointed at his house, “Go into my house, out the back and then work your way south behind the hedge. Stay low!”

“Roger, I don’t want to get shot either, I’ll stay out of sight.”

Trevor sent Julius a quick text about the officer coming through.

“Okay. Once you’re in position, stay there until we clear your return.”

“Roger that.”

It was a long three minutes until Trevor’s radio woke up. “O-3 to S-3.”

“Go, O-3.”

“No thermal signatures on this side of the house.”

“Roger that. Stay put until further notice.”

“Affirmative.”

Next Up - “Inside Jerry’s House”