The clerk burst out laughing. “Very clever. Let’s get you checked out.”
Hector returned to the station satisfied with his purchase and just in time to get back to work. Since he hadn’t had time to get anything to eat thanks to his impromptu shopping trip, he stopped by the vending machine for a bag of chips on his way back to the Pen. When he reached his desk, Clay’s eyes immediately zeroed in on one of the bags in his hand. And he wasn’t looking at the Lay’s.
“What—”
A voice suddenly coming through their radios cut him off. “We’ve received a confirmed sighting for an earlier Amber alert. HPD is currently in pursuit and suspect is confirmed armed with a semi-automatic weapon. Shots were fired at a police cruiser…”
Jody came out of her office as dispatch was still relaying information. “We’re taking this. Everybody move out now.”
Calm and steady, Hector locked the bags away in his desk. He checked his weapon before putting on his helmet and the rest of his gear. Their game faces on, the team headed out. They arrived on the scene at the end of the chase, moments after the suspect had rammed the car into a light post, making it inoperable.
Hector jumped out of the back of the truck, watching as the suspect dragged the red-haired kid, who looked to be about seven years old, out through the driver’s side of his car. The semi-automatic he held up had everyone cautious and staying back. They couldn’t charge while he was armed, and they didn’t want to shoot and risk injury to the kid. Hector followed the rapid-fire instructions that shot into his earpiece.
Crouched low, he jogged off to a better vantage point, while the negotiator moved into position. Once he was in place, Hector watched the scene through his scope, keeping his breathing steady as he waited. He hoped he wouldn’t have to get directly involved in this operation. The negotiator was doing his thing. But it didn’t look like it was working.
The kidnapper’s face was filled with rage as he cursed and shouted, blaming the situation on the kid’s mother and her new husband. The kid was obviously his son based on his rant and their matching hair color. Still, the kid cried silent tears, probably too scared and shocked to make a sound. Jody’s voice came over the communication system.
“Castillo, do you have a clear shot?”
“Yes, ma’am, I do.” The boy was held in front of the father, but thanks to their big difference in height, the father’s head was clear and unobstructed in Hector’s sights.
“Hold.”
Hector stayed calm, even as the sinking feeling in his gut told him this wasn’t going to end well. The angry father’s mien abruptly changed. His face went strangely calm, and he looked down at his son. He raised the gun…
“Castillo, take the shot!”
With a slow exhale, Hector obeyed the order.
***
Miguel sat on the couch, feet up and arms wrapped around his bent knees. He was watching the aftermath of a chase scene on the evening news. A man had kidnapped a little boy from a department store, taken the police on a high-speed chase when a citizen spotted his car and called in the tip, then refused to surrender once he crashed the car and was surrounded.
All of that over the space of a few hours, ending in the kidnapper’s death from a single bullet. Miguel felt a general sense of sadness at the loss of life, but all his concern was for the poor kid. He’d looked shell-shocked as they’d shown him being escorted to the back of a police car.
The on-location reporter continued giving crime scene details, but Miguel didn’t care about that. He watched the scene in the background. Hector was on duty today, so he knew the few SWAT officers he could see milling around were his teammates. He kept watching, hoping for a glimpse of his boyfriend. Finally, he saw him. His face appeared stoic, but Miguel knew his moods. He was bothered. Miguel’s suspicions were confirmed when one of his teammates clapped him on the shoulder, and Hector’s too calm mask dropped for a second just before they moved off camera.
Miguel rested his chin on his knees. They were supposed to be going out for dinner and a movie tonight, but Miguel had a feeling those plans were going to be cancelled. He got up and went into the kitchen to pull out ingredients for some comfort food. He prepared the dish the way his mother had taught him when he was a kid and in need of his own comfort after being teased at school. The phone rang as he was pouring the hot mixture of milk, melted cheese, and butter into a glass baking dish. Miguel checked the screen, answering when he saw it was Hector.
“Hey.”
“Hey, baby.” Hector’s voice came across the line, sounding sad and tired. “I’m running late. We just got back to the station, and it’s probably going to be a little while longer before I get out of here.”
“That’s okay. I saw the news.”
Hector sighed, the sound rough and low. “Yeah. Do you mind if we raincheck on going out tonight?”
“Not at all. Can I bring you some food? I can stay if you want the company or just leave the food there with you if you need some space.”
“I’d love your company,” Hector said with the smallest hint of a smile in his voice.
“Okay, text me when you’re on your way home and I’ll meet you there.”
Two hours later, Miguel pulled up to Hector’s apartment and parked under one of the parking lot lamps. Before getting out of the car, he made sure to look around to see if he saw anyone or anything suspicious. The habit was new, drilled in to him by Hector.
It was a good habit to have for basic safety and awareness. But he hated that he did it because there might actually be someone out there who wanted to hurt him. Not for the first time, he wished he’d never gotten mixed up with Santos. Miguel didn’t see anything, so he got out with his casserole dish, locked the door, and walked over to Hector’s apartment.
Hector greeted him with uncharacteristic quiet. Concerned, Miguel put the dish in the oven to warm for a few minutes. He was almost positive Hector had been the one to take that shot, but he wasn’t sure how to bring it up. Hector had followed him into the kitchen, so Miguel went over and leaned against Hector’s front, sliding his arms around his waist in a gentle embrace.