“Do you recognize them? How do you know this information?”
“I overheard their conversation. I don’t know what they’re here for, but the male said something about showing the girl something. He’s very big. I didn’t see any weapons, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t any.”
“Thank you. Are you in a secure location?”
“Yes. I’m hiding under a desk in the office on the left, farthest from the back door.” I’m actually very proud of myself that I remembered my location and was able to pinpoint it so accurately. I feel kind of secret-agent-ish. Now that the police are right outside, my fears have taken a backseat to my involvement in this little scenario. It’s not nearly as awful as it was two minutes ago. Adrenaline is making me tremble all over, though. I’m sweating too. Fun on a Wednesday night!
“Copy that,” the dispatcher says. “Please hold the line.”
My ear and cheek are sweating where the phone is pressed up against my face. I can smell my breath, and it ain’t pretty. But I’m not moving, no matter what. I’ll stay here until I cramp up and keel over. The only way I’m crawling out is if Lucky comes and tells me it’s all clear.
“Ma’am are you still on the line?” asks the operator.
“Yes. I’m here.”
“The officers are going to enter the location. Stay where you are. Do not get involved.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t.”
The next thing I hear is a banging on the door and someone shouting. I’ve watched enough Criminal Minds episodes to know that they’re doing their knock and announce before entering. I hope they don’t break the door in. I don’t remember hearing those two people locking the door behind them.
The back door bangs open and a voice comes to my ears much clearer.
“This is the New Orleans Police Department! We are entering the building! If you are in this building, you are trespassing. Please come out with your hands up. Do not draw any weapons.” I hear little footsteps running and then the girl screaming.
A male voice comes next; I think it’s the tall intruder. “Hey! We’re not trespassers! My dad owns this place.”
I roll my eyes. Holy shit. What are the chances that the one night we decide to come work here, an owner’s son also decides to come out to the office to cop a feel with his girlfriend?
The lights go on and shine brightly into the office. I squeeze my knees against my chest. I don’t think Ozzie would want Lucky or me to show our presence here to these two kids. The file says that there are four owners of this business, and I have to believe that this kid is related to one of the owners who is not in the know about our operation. Mr. Jorgensen would’ve made sure to keep an eye on his kid on the night he knew we’d be coming here.
A police officer is in the middle of the hallway, speaking to the two intruders. I can’t see anything, but I can tell from the sound of his voice that he’s not by the office I’m in. I stay put anyway.
“Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”
“I told you, man, this is my father’s office. I’m not intruding, so you can’t arrest me.”
“Son, I am not going to debate this with you. I don’t know who you are, and I’m not in the habit of taking the word of people who break and enter a business at one o’clock in the morning. So turn around and put your hands behind your back. We’ll work this out after I have you secured.”
“Jerry, just do what he’s saying.”
“Shut up, Heather. He can’t tell me what to do. This is my property.”
I hear a boom and a struggle and then some swearwords. “Get off me, man!”
There’s more grunting, followed by sounds of clicking. “You have the right to remain silent . . .” The voices get fainter as the intruder is hauled off down the hallway. When I finally get brave enough to pop my head up above the desk, there’s a man standing in the hallway looking right at me. My eyes go wide. Thank God he’s wearing a police uniform, or I probably would have passed out with fear.
He winks at me, gives me a little salute, and walks away, headed for the back door. I sink back down onto the carpet, feeling like I’m going to vomit. My head is spinning and I’m covered in cold sweat.
I cannot believe that just happened. Sounds of the girl whining and her boyfriend grumbling disappear as the delinquents and the arresting officers leave the building. There are locking noises and then silence.
I wait there in that office sitting on my butt listening to my heartbeat in my ears for the longest time, surprised I’m not having a heart attack. I didn’t know my heart could even go this fast. I hold my hands out in front of me and marvel at how much they’re trembling. I look like a drug addict in bad need of a fix.