Standoff

17:55 Hours

17:55 Hours

Maxine watched on as each division did their thing. CSI roped off the scene, and homicide and gang detectives compared notes and identified the shooters.

Captain Kelly had been on the scene for almost ten minutes, never wavering from his nephew's side. They stationed Maxine east of the preschool where Homicide had set up a command center, and parents were being funneled to get their children.

The relentless noise of screaming and crying toddlers, the alarming gunshots, and the bustling activity of investigations left her drained.

"Six-three Charlie to all units. Be advised that a group of LREC foot mobiles is heading your way. Requesting a unit to back. Call us out at Central and First."

At that moment, a surge of emotions overwhelmed Max so powerful that her instinctual response was to fight. If given the chance, she'd hop into one of the RMPs prepared for the confrontation with LREC. She had to resist the impulse because she Knew Kelly was watching her. And as much as she appreciated his protection, she felt the need to hurt someone. Just punch someone or make them pay for the chaos that was going on.

"Hey, Max," said a voice from behind. Jeremy Hwang was the last person she wanted to deal with. In fact, maybe it would be him who she'd punch. He was the reason Maxine was upset before the watch.

She could tolerate many things. But cheating deserved a harsh recompense.

"Hey, Max," he continued. He tried to look her in the face, but she kept turning away. "You're not answering my texts or calls."

"You dug your own grave, asshole. Now lie in it," she snapped.

He took her by the arm, which caused her to turn and take her arm back. Hwang sighed, and she heard the tension in his voice.

"Max, you could hardly blame me. You changed when you climbed into the car with your FTO, the great Corporal Kelly. You're combative, angry, and seem to have withdrawn from me. I said I wanted to keep us a secret for fear it could cost us our reputations—"

"And how'd that work out for you?" she said. Max raised her hand, clenched it into a fist, and then opened it, palm facing upwards.

"Jeremy, I'm not doing this right now," she snapped. Her tone carried annoyance and impatience. "I have a job to do," she said dismissively, "and you're not worth my time."

Maxine turned away and stared at Kelly, hoping she could get his attention. However, someone jerked her towards the yellow tape and off balance.

She recoiled, mistaking it for Jeremy, but it turned out to be a frantic mom. The woman waved her I.D. at Max and shouted for her daughter.

"Ma'am," said Max. She took the woman's hand and shushed her. "Who are you looking for?" Maxine's voice was calm and gentle.

"Michelle," she cried. "Michelle Black."

Max reached for her collar mic and announced the child, and within seconds, one of the school aides brought her over to them.

The mother dropped to her knees, her handbag spilling all over the street, and hugged Michelle Black tight. The asphalt scratched the mom's suede leather jacket, and her pantyhose ran and tore. One of her heels fell from her foot as she kicked it to the side. But she kept hugging and kissing and loving on that child.

Max kneeled and replaced all the bag's contents. As she stood, she tapped the mom on the shoulder and smiled.

"She's all good," she said. Michelle, two years old, sobbed in her mother's arms. "Oh, you're okay, sweetie. The bad men are all gone, and you have your mommy now."

"Thank you, officer," said the mom as she took her handbag from her. "God bless you," she said. She kissed Max on the cheek and hurried away from the craziness.

Maxine felt an immense sense of pride at that moment. She withstood her first shooting, didn't panic, and now had the experience of a lifetime, seeing mother and daughter reunited.

But it didn't last long.

Maxine moved aside from the yellow tape, barricade, and command center to distance herself from Jeremy, who was trailing behind.

"You need to leave. Right now. This is not the time or place for this," she snapped.

But all that did was piss off Jeremy. He quick stepped by her and cur her off. He made made sure they were face to face.

She was uncertain if this was an act of intimidation or a means to show his frustration by her disposition.

"That guy has turned you inside out, and everyone knows it. Plus, it's no secret the two of you have something going on," he snapped. "You not only became a part of the outlaws. Apparently, you're giving him more than just salutes every afternoon."

Maxine stepped closer to his face, her eyes ablaze with rage.

"You know what, if I was to give it up, it would be to him, long before your gimpy sorry ass. Oh, and by the way, did you really text me that the bitch badge bunny meant nothing? You're a lying piece of shit, and I promise you it will come back around."

"Well, she's not the first one, Max, but it will be the last time I cheat on you. That's for sure. Not that you ever gave me sex, so why not?"

Max couldn't breathe, choked by the betrayal and the fury rising in her chest. She'd never felt anything like this and thought she would lose her mind.

What is this job doing to me?

Then, from nowhere, a hand jerked Jeremy from her face and put himself between them.

"What's the problem, dick weed," said Keegan as he moved closer to Hwang. Jeremy tried to push back, but Keegan had the leverage, grabbing him by the Kevlar straps near his shoulder.

While Maxine didn't see Keegan's face, she saw Hwang's. He gritted his teeth, feeling the pressure against his body as he held his breath, trying to push Keegan back.

"Hey, hey," whispered Martinez. Although low so nobody could hear her, Martinez's gritted teeth and piercing eyes set the tone of her command.

"Martinez, you better get your boot in line," said Keegs. "Because the next time he gets in McMenamin's face, I'm gonna break his wide open."

Martinez pushed between them, her eyes pleading for Maxine's help. Max gripped Keegs around his waist and guided him, step by step, towards the old tree with its six-foot wrought-iron fence.

"McMenamin," said Martinez. "Welcome to the world of being hated. I hope you enjoy your next twenty-five years."

"Why do you hate me so much?" asked Maxine. The day's exhaustion and constant ridicule of being a part of the Killers, Keegan, and Kelly had worn her down. And they heard the exacerbation in her voice.

"Cause you're a spoiled pillow princess legacy whose daddy handed her this job on a silver platter."

Martinez was now postured against Maxine while she still held Keegan by the waist. "You're the bitch that's going to sleep around and undo everything that every female cop in this department tried to achieve."

Keegan jumped, his fury shown in his reddened cheeks and bared teeth. He wasn't going to leave this alone. Maxine tried to shush him. She even put her hand over his mouth, but he would not let that go.

"Hey, Celia," he snapped. "Why don't you get drunk tonight at Cohan's and see if you can find yourself a horny little Sheila? Your husband's probably out banging the waitress from Ray's. Yeah, this way, you can go home and play with each other while rubbing your pathetic little—"

"Holy shit. Everybody stop!" Shouted Kelly. "Hwang, you and I will have words later, but now's not the time. And PFC Martinez, the sooner you realize she's not a turf-reaping, high femme, the better we'll be."

He walked toward Keegan and handed him the open tobacco pouch. They ignored Martinez as she ranted about sexual misconduct and bigotry, but it didn't even register.

"You still owe me," said Kelly.

"Yeah. Six and counting."

That seemed to be their cure for everything. Fondle the pouch first, play with the zip lock, open it, and offer it. Of course, they'd take big wads of black leaf and stuff it in their faces. And then, blam, all was right with the world.

"Max," said Kelly. He rushed past her. But when she didn't follow, he stopped and looked over his shoulder. "We'll talk in the car about Hwang, but first, we have to go. They found another body."