Officer Parker picked up his radio handset from the center console and joined the other officers in responding. “Roger that,” he said flatly, clicking off the radio before mumbling the rest of his response. “You arrogant agency asshole.”
He dropped the handset back onto the console and watched the two oversized vehicles as they sped towards the old saloon four blocks ahead. Well, I guess my work here is done Parker thought as he reached for his thermos and poured a fresh cup of coffee. As he did, he noticed the half-eaten cinnamon bun from earlier that morning still sitting in its wrapper. After a moment of deliberation, he shrugged and picked it up. Why not? he thought defiantly. He could always drop the weight after the holidays. He took a large bite and leaned back contentedly in his seat. He was just about to wash the mouthful of pastry down with a sip of his coffee when he glanced out his side window and paused.
Two men were walking towards him.
“What the hell is this?” Officer Parker muttered to himself. He watched as the two men strolled casually down Humphreys Street, both of them noticeably underdressed for the weather. The taller of the two had blonde hair and was clad in jeans and a tightly-fitting black t-shirt. The other man was slightly shorter, with dark hair and a thin, athletic build. As they grew nearer, Parker noticed the second man was also wearing a t-shirt, a large rainbow stitched across the chest. The meaning of the symbol was just beginning to sink in when the man reached over and grabbed his partner’s hand.
“Oh Jesus… you’ve got to be kidding me,” Parker whispered to himself. So much for fucking terrorists he thought as he rested his coffee mug on the center console and lowered his window. He irritably waved the two men over as they reached the intersection.
“Hellooo officer,” the tall blonde man said flirtatiously as they walked up to the patrol car.
Officer Parker gave him a stern look. “You two need to evacuate this area immediately,” he said coldly, pointing back towards the edge of the barricade area a few blocks west.
“Oh my god, what’s going on?” the dark-haired man asked dramatically, flashing an anxious frown as he stepped closer.
“Nothing you need to worry about,” Parker replied, again pointing his hand. “Just keep walking that direction and go about your business.”
The dark-haired man suddenly sprang forward and pressed something hard and cold firmly against his shoulder. Before Parker knew what was happening, a paralyzing charge of electricity immediately coursed through his limbs, twisting his overweight body into a contorted arc. Within seconds it was over. The dark-haired man released the trigger and quickly checked his pulse as Parker slumped forward against the steering wheel of the patrol car. A long string of drool slowly fell from his mouth.
The blonde-haired man walked around the patrol car and quickly slipped into the passenger seat. As he did, his partner leaned forward and whispered softly into Parker’s ear.
“I’m sorry officer, but this is our business.”
∞
“What the fuck is that man doing up there?”
Alex leaned over the dash of the Suburban and looked up at the utility pole that stood less than ten yards away from the entrance of Joe’s Last Stand Saloon. Thirty feet up, a serviceman was hanging from a harness, apparently oblivious to his surroundings as he worked on the large transformer suspended above him.
“Goddammit!” Alex hissed. He clicked on his radio and spoke angrily into the small headset attached to his ear. “This is Agent Murstead. Can anyone tell me why there’s a man hanging from the utility pole in front of the target location?”
“Yes sir,” the radio crackled in response. “This is Lieutenant Mason. We couldn’t get his attention, sir. He must be wearing earplugs or something. I tried waving to get his attention, but he didn’t seem to notice. We did call the power company, sir, and they confirmed that they sent someone to that location. So I think he’s alright. I mean, I don’t think he’s up to something, sir.”
Alex shook his head in disbelief before responding. “Thank you, lieutenant. Would anyone else like to communicate some important information to me regarding the target area before my team and I begin?”
The radio remained silent.
“That’s what I thought,” Alex mumbled as he clicked off his radio and stopped the Suburban a block from of the target location. The second vehicle stopped behind him. He quickly scanned the area before focusing on the narrow front façade of Joe’s. From the outside, the saloon appeared lifeless. The neon ‘open’ sign that hung at the top of the window was off and its wooden blinds turned down to conceal any view. As Alex expected, the entrance door was closed. He studied the building a moment longer before lowering his binoculars.