Night shook her head as she shut the door to the car. The scene before her was straight out of a movie or a TV show opening. Red & Blue lights flickered from the emergency vehicles that took up most of the lanes on White Wood Highway to secure the scene.

The first thing Night notices is the box truck that’s riddled with bullets. She had heard about it when the call came in early this morning when she was barely out of her neighborhood.

Walking closer Night recognized Storm and the rest of the team. They studied the truck and the area around it looking for clues of their own. Star noticed Night and waved her over.

“Top of the morning,” Star greeted. “You got called here too?”

“A box truck is shot up early in the morning, Star,” Night grunted. “Everyone is getting called out here. What do we have?”

Storm shook his head. “A real mess. Five are on their way to the hospital. Two are dead, one of them is the truck driver.”

Night sighted. “That’s the fourth one the past two weeks. Is it connected to the others?”

“Maybe,” Star answered. “When I was in Narcotics, the driver of the box truck was suspected of running drugs for the Black Hearts. Just like the other victims.”

“Which means that this might be gang-related now.” Clover guessed.

“That’s sad,” Comet grunted. “District 2 was finally getting cleaned up and now this is happening.”

“I think we need to focus on the bigger picture here,” Buck gestured to the bullet riddle truck. “The truck was empty when patrol checked it. So, our runner was either on his way to a delivery, just finished a delivery, or caught a stray.”

“The bigger question for me is, who wants to start a gang war with the Black Hearts?” Star asked. “The Black Hearts aren’t the most dangerous gang in the city, but picking a fight with them isn’t smart either.”

Night nodded. “Alright, gather pictures, statements, and anything else that can be useful. Bring it all back to the office so we can start adding these pieces to the other four. If this is gang-related, we will need help from HTR and the Gang unit.”

Everyone nodded before separating. Night started walking back to her car. The far left lane was opened for vehicles to pass. Many slowly drove by looking at what they could before driving down the highway.

“Another day in Canterlot City.” Night muttered to herself before getting in the car.

“Alright,” Storm begins. “This is what we know. There have been four drive-by shootings in two weeks. All victims are members of the Black Hearts. The first two were in District 3 in an area that bordered city limits. Two Black Hearts members were DOA. The second and third were in District 2 both of them in different stripmalls same MO. Drive by and Black Heart members DOA. And our fourth was the most dangerous one yet. Even with all of this, we still don’t know the reason for the attacks on the Black Hearts let alone who’s doing it.”

“It’s either territory or vendetta,” Comet guessed. “All the attacks have been in areas where Black Hearts are known to be.”

“The thing that gets me is that why haven’t the Black Hearts retaliated yet,” Phantom asked. “Four attacks in two weeks. They have to know they are being targeted by someone.”

“Maybe they don’t know who’s doing it,” Buck piped up. “What I do know is that this is getting serious. The bullets that were shot at the truck were from AR and SMGs. Not too many gangs have that firepower or use it for something like this.”

“This may seem in poor taste, but my old captain said that gang wars cut down on paperwork,” Star commented. “It’s sad but true.”

“The only problem with that is gang members don’t have the best aim in the world and don’t care how many people they hit as long as they hit their target,” Clover added. “What happened this morning is a prime example.”

Despite everything the team has there still missing two important things. Who’s attacking the Black Hearts and why are they doing it? Things like this are critical in finding the truth and hopefully stopping the shootings.

Night stared at the whiteboard. The pictures from the other four crime scenes stared back at her as if they would tell her who was doing this. “Alright, this is now our top priority,” Night declared. “We need to end this as soon as possible. Whitewood Highway goes from North to South, and it’s near the city’s border. Phantom, I want you to check the traffic cameras in the area of the shooting. If you can pinpoint the box truck we could find the car. Maybe we’ll get lucky and get a positive I.D. on our attackers.”

“Camera check, on it,” Phantom acknowledged.

“Comet, Buck. Head back to the area and question all the gas stations in the area. Also, check out the few witness statements we had.”

“I’ll drive,” Buck said grabbing the keys.

“Star, Clover as for you two, work this gang angle more. If this is the start of a gang war or a takeover I want to know how and why this started.”

“I do have a few contacts that used to be in a gang,” Clover said. “Maybe they know what’s going on.”

Star clapped his hands together. “So, we all meet back here for around lunch?”

“That’s if we have evidence on our second party. If not, then we're working through lunch.” Night ordered. “I don’t want this to spiral any further out of control than it already is.”

Everyone agreed before leaving to do the assignment they were given.

When Storm and Night were the only ones in the room, Storm sighed.
“I guess we get stuck with the crap assignments huh?”

Night pinched her nose. “Sadly yes. I assume you were already told about your meeting with the Safety Division?”

“Just got off the phone with the secretary. They want to see me as soon as possible to talk about what we are doing about the incident this morning.”

“Off the books, this is your team and I’m here to take heat for things like this. The director singled you out because you're often in the field while I’m in the office.” Night explained. “That and we don’t have a good relationship.”

Storm rolled his eyes. “I get that, but it feels like they’re expecting me to have all the answers when we’re still investigating.”

“Welcome to my world,” Night sighed. “I’m having a meeting with the Gang Unit and State Troopers and Highway Patrol. They want to assist too since this happened on the Highway.”

“At least you those people will be helpful and understand what’s going on and how to stop it,” Storm looked at the clock and sighed. “Might as well get this meeting over with. Wish me luck.”

After a solid hour on the road, Star and Clover pulled up to one of the many shabby, poorly maintained apartments lining Whitewood Highway.

"This place brings back memories," Star said putting the car in park. "Nothing has changed."

"You've been here?" Clover asked.

"Three times. The first was in High School after senior prom. The second is when I stayed here in the parking lot after running out of gas. The third time was a raid when I was with Narcotics. Anyway, this is where your content lives?"

"Yup," Clover confirmed, her voice steady but laced with unease as she glanced at the grimy windows. "He lives here. It’s not much, but it’s home for him."

Star looked at the building, its paint peeling and windows grimy, evidence of a time when it had likely seen better days. The façade sagged under the weight of neglect, with rusted railings and broken steps leading up to the entrance. "This place has taken a beating the last time I was here," Star remarked. “You sure this informant is on the ups?”

Clover starts to walk up the stairs to the second floor. “He’s fine. If it wasn’t for me he’d still be in prison till this day. Also, he’s regretted his past decisions. He lives a quiet life here now.”

The pair stopped at the door. The door itself looked like it would fall at any given moment. Clover knocked twice and waited. The door creaked open revealing a man in his late forties. He wore a T-shirt and sweatpants, and his scruffy beard had a few gray hairs.

“Clover,” The man said. “Been a while.”

“Four months,” Clover replied. “Nice to see you again Buzz. Aren’t you going to invite me in?

Buzz gestured for them to come inside. The small room is cluttered but cozy. A few potted plants are set on the windowsill, the television flickered in the corner and coins are spread out on the table. A large bed is in the middle of the room where the couch is supposed to be.

“Who’s you’re friend?” Buzz asked plopping on his bed.

“This is Star,” Clover introduced. “He’s a part of a task force with me.”

Buzz grabbed a can of beer on the nightstand. “Let me guess. The attack on the highway this morning?”

“How’d you know?” Star asked.

Buzz shrugged. “It’s all over the news. Also, this was a long time coming. I knew the EK7 would get their revenge on the Black Hearts.”

“Revenge? So, this is a gang issue. Who are the EK7s?”

“It’s short for Emporer Kings, It started years ago when I was in the streets as a low-level dealer. Back then the EK7s controlled everything in District 2. The docks, clubs, stores, and even Whitewood Highway for a short time. If they found out your running or dealing on their turf you’ll come up missing the next day.”

Clover nodded. “I knew about that. When I came here the EK7s were one of the most dangerous gangs in the city. They trafficked girls, guns you name it. The only thing I don’t know is how did they disappear overnight?”

Buzz chuckled. “Ironically, the police. For a solid month, CCPD raided businesses and homes that belonged to the EK7s, along with pulling over cars that had members or runners with outstanding warrants. In every single one of these events, EK7 members were arrested. It was a 100% success rate, CCPD didn’t miss.”

“Impressive,” Star said. “But where do the Black Hearts come into this?”

“The Black Hearts are the ones who gave the police the information,” Buzz revealed. “The EK7 and Black Hearts have been going at it for years, but EK7 had more resources so a head-on fight would be suicide. So, they did the next best thing and talked to the police. When everyone was said and done, Black Hearts took over the EK7’s territory. However, that didn’t last long since the District had gotten better.”

“The average prison time for trafficking is what 5-8 years?” Clover asked. “So, that means most of them are now.”

“That’s if it’s a first offense and if they have a great lawyer,” Star answered. “Now it’s ten years later and they want revenge. The report said that CCPD estimated that 98% of EK7’s members were put in jail in that operation. They’ve fallen off over the years. They’ve tried to get back in, but never could. My follow-up question is how did the EK7s find out the Black Hearts sold them out?”

Buzz leaned back in bed, his expression shifting from casual to serious. “This next piece of information isn’t dependable, but I’ve heard that the EK7s had an alliance with the Mockingbirds.”

Star and Clover’s eyes widen. The Mockingbirds are a cartel that operates in Tree Country just outside the city and Woodway. They’re very organized, very dangerous, and have multiple members that are on the world's most wanted list. They are even on the national watch.

“An alliance with the Mockingbirds?” Clover repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. “The Mockingbirds don't just partner with anyone.”

“That’s what I said,” Buzz agreed. “The Mockingbirds have their fingers in everything—drugs, human trafficking, arms dealing. If they’re involved, it’s only a matter of time before things spiral out of control.”

“That would explain the control the EK7s had years ago,” Star said. “I wonder what their next target is.”

Clover stood up. “We're not going to find out right away. “We’ll need to report what we found to the others. “Before we go Buzz. Do you have any idea who might have carried out the shooting? Any names we should be looking for?"

Buzz shrugged. "I can’t say for sure, but I know the remaining members of the EK7s are itching for a fight. One name that keeps coming up is a guy named Sunray. He’s ruthless, and if he’s involved, things are going to get messy."

Clover exchanged a glance with Star. "We’ll have to look into Sunray. Any last tips or advice for us, Buzz?"

"Just stay safe," Buzz replied, his brow furrowing slightly. "These guys don’t play nice, and if they think you’re getting too close, they'll come after you.”

“Can I rely on your help?” Clover asked.

Buzz chuckled, a hollow sound. "You think I want to get mixed up in that again? No offense, but I’ve done my time in that world. I value my peace too much now. But I can give you a heads-up if you need it."

Clover nodded, understanding the unspoken boundary. "Fair enough. Just let us know if you hear anything. We’ll keep you out of it."

The pair exited the small apartment and made their way back to the car.

“We need to get to the precinct and relay this information. If the EK7s are back in play and possibly allied with the Mockingbirds, we’re looking at a major escalation.” Star warned. “A gang war is the last thing the city needs.”

“Do you think they’re working together?” Clover asked, leaning against the hood, her brow furrowed. “The EK7s and the Mockingbirds. It sounds like a heavy one-sided alliance. The Mockingbirds are a whole different breed. They thrive on chaos, while the EK7s have always been about precision and control. It doesn’t add up.”

Star opened the door. “We’ll find out more at the office. Things could be worse.”

“We just found out a gang has backup from one of the world's most dangerous cartels. What’s worse than that?” Clover asked.

“We could be in Strom’s shoes and be dealing with the City Safety Division.” Star reminded me.

“Oh yeah, that.”

Storm sat alone at a table trying his best to hide his annoyance from the five faces that stared back at him. Each of them stared back at Storm with an unreadable expression. Essentially, the head of the safety division is a no-nonsense woman named Director Hayes. She tapped her pen and stared at Storm with disappointment.

The safety division was created in 1972, a few years after the city was created. Their job at first was to make sure all seven districts in Canterlot City followed safety protocol for city workers. Three decades later, their role was given more power in 1985 as the city continued to grow.

While the safety division wasn’t the boss of the first responders or anyone for that matter they do closely monitor emergencies and incidents in all seven districts in the city. If the situation calls for it they can launch an investigation on the department they believed to be in the wrong about said safety.

The main reason why Storm had a problem with the safety division is because the people there have zero experience with what the first responders do and how they operate. The most recent incent was when they believed that a firehouse was responding too slowly to calls because of lazy firemen. In reality, it was because of heavy traffic that caused its delay in response time.

“I hope you know the reason why you are here officer.” Hayes begins. “These shootings are getting out of control. Two deaths and no suspects in custody is very alarming to the public.”

Storm took a deep breath before speaking. “I understand the situation. As of right now, my team is canvassing the area around Whitewood Highway for any leads. As of right now, we believe this to be gang-related. However, there is no solid evidence yet.”

“No leads after three shootings?” Hayes asked. “That’s very disturbing are you sure that your team is capable of handling this investigation?”

Storm glared at Hayes. “I can assure you Hayes that my time is very capable. We are working with HTR and Highway Patrol. If this is gang-related we must proceed with caution, Black Hearts is one of the more dangerous gangs in Canterlot City. Whoever is attacking them has a score to settle with them. If we rush we risk unlawful arrest we’d waste time and the possibility of others getting hurt. That means your job gets hard and the press will be on you instead of us.”

Hayes' eyes narrowed at Storm. “You think I don’t know that? How long should we wait till you can solve this? It’s been nearly a week with no arrest.”

“Give us two days,” Storm answered. “With the help we are getting from other units we are bound to make progress. However, I can’t assist my team with the investigation if I stay here.”

Hayes glared at Storm. She didn’t like being talked back too. He knew this when Night and other higher-ups from the department warned him about her. Technically, neither of them had power in this situation. This was only a hearing and Storm, believes they don’t have enough evidence to open any case on him or his team.

“Fine,” Hayes finally said. “I expect progress. I want results or I’ll escalate this to not only the police commissioner but to the mayor as well. Clear?”

“Crystal,” Storm said in a dry tone. “I will let you know when it’s solved.”

Hayes dismissed him with a wave of her hand.

Storm stood up, a wave of frustration washing over him as he walked out of the sterile conference room. He could feel their eyes on him as he exited. Especially Hayes, while this was only their first meeting he could tell they wouldn’t have many if any pleasant meetings.

When Storm was outside took a breath of the outside air. He glanced at his watch, it was nearly noon. The meeting only lasted for five minutes but it felt longer. As he walked to his car, he pulled out his phone to call Night. She picked up right away.

“How’d the meeting go?”

“I meet Director Hayes,” Storm begins. “Will talk about her later. Please tell me someone found something.”

“We found a lot. Comet and Buck didn’t find much with the canvas which wasn’t a surprise. Phantom found our car, it’s a Blue Mazda SUV with temporary plates. They were tailing the box truck before getting on the highway. They existed in District 3 so they might still be in town. As for Clover and Star, they have a person of interest.”

That got Storm’s attention. “Person of interest? Who?”

“Sunray. I’ve already looked him up. “He’s got a history with the Black Hearts. He’s been in and out of jail for petty offenses, but his name keeps popping up in connection with the recent shootings.”

“Think he's our shooter?” Storm asked.

“Maybe we won’t know till we find him. He doesn’t have a home address. What we do have is a place he's often seen. A bar on the edge of District 4 called The Rusty Nail.”

Storm got in his car and turned it on. “I’ll meet them there.”

“Don’t bother. The bar was foreclosed last week. It’s boarded up and locked up.”

“Shit,” Storm hissed. “He was our only lead. What now?”

Night paused for a moment, considering their options. “Let’s regroup back at the office. That area has pod cameras, if he does show up again will see him.”

“Got it,” Storm answered before hanging up.

Storm pulled out of the parking lot and accelerated onto the highway back to the precinct. Eager to find a way to get to the bottom of this senseless killing.

Night stared at the evidence board as if the answer would appear before her. “It’s nice to know we have a person of interest, but if we can’t find him then what the point?”

“Cars in the wind too,” Buck added. “It’s almost been four hours, the plates are either switched or it’s locked up in a garage somewhere.”

“Why don’t we just blitz the EK7s?” Star suggested. “The Black Hearts aren’t even putting up a fight, they haven’t retaliated yet.”

“That would be ideal if we knew where they were,” Comet admitted. “EK7 has no known turf or area they control. Also, it sounds like it’s a small group rather than a large one.”

Clover pointed to the map. “They have to have a base of operations somewhere. Two shootings were in District 2 and others were in District 3. So it has to be somewhere in between right?”

Storm’s brow furrowed as he studied the area of the map Clover pointed out. The areas were all on the Western part of the city near the city limits. “Most areas in that part of the city are either empty lots and or warehouses used by the poster services. I don’t think we’ll find much out there.”

“What about that one lot that has been under construction for a year?” Comet asked. “It’s been abandoned for ages, and the construction company hasn’t touched it in months. It could be a perfect hideout for them.”

“Maybe,” Star said. “It’s out of the way, but it’s also the perfect place for a gang to set up shop without drawing too much attention. No traffic, no neighbors complaining about noise.”

Night nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. “It might be worth checking out. However, we are still missing our person of interest.”

“Alright, we’ll split into teams,” Storm suggested. “Me and Star will check out the construction site. Buck, Comet you guys canvass District 2 and District 3 again. See if you can pick up any chatter about the EK7s or if Sunray has been spotted around those areas. Phantom, Clover you two on cameras. One watches the construction site with Storm and Star, the other keeps an eye on the Rusty Nail.”

Darkness took over the city as evening fell. The construction site loomed ahead, a skeletal structure surrounded by a rusted chain-link fence, debris scattered across the ground. For two hours Storm and Star sat in their car watching the area from a distance.

“What the heck were they supposed to be building again?” Star asked.

“From what I remember, it was supposed to be a dozen duplexes for low-income families. I think they built two and abandoned it from there for whatever reason.” Storm answered. “It's a shame, it’s the perfect spot between the county and downtown.”

“Great investment,” Star muttered sarcastically. “How about we get out and take a closer look? Good idea?”

“More like a dumb idea,” Storm rolled his eyes. “We don’t know who or what’s in there. Also, no backup.”

“When has that ever stopped us?” Star countered. “Let’s do a quick recon. We’ll stay low, keep our voices down, and check the perimeter first. If we see anything suspicious, we pull back and wait for backup.”

Storm grunted quietly. The rational part of his brain wants to stay in the car and report what they find, however, the irrational part wants to find out if Comet’s theory is correct.
“Fine,” Storm relented, “but we stick together, and we’re in and out. No heroics.”

Star grinned, his excitement palpable. “Deal. Let’s move.”

The pair crossed the street to the side of the construction site. They stepped through the gap in the chain-link fence, carefully navigating around mounds of dirt and rusted metal. The skeletal framework of the unfinished buildings loomed overhead, casting long shadows in the fading light. As they circled the site, Storm looked for any signs of recent activity. Fresh footprints, discarded items, anything that might indicate someone had been there recently. The silence was palpable, broken only by the sound of their footsteps.

Storm felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He looked at his watch to see who was calling. It was Clover.

“Yeah, Clover?”

“What are you idiots doing construction site?” Clover asked.

Storm sighed, trying to keep his voice steady. “We’re just checking things out. It seems quiet. We don’t think… Wait, how did you know that?”

“The cameras,” Clover’s voice was laced with frustration. “I can see you turn around.”

Storm turned around and saw a CCTV camera. It was hard to see during the daytime, but the blinking blue light gave it away.

“Oh,” Storm said. “We’ll at least you can see us.”

Clover paused for a moment, then continued. “You’re at the east side of the construction site, right? I can see you on the monitor. You're clear for now, but I’ve noticed some movement on the northside.”

“Wishful thinking, are they workers?” Storm asked.

“They were loading something in an SUV so I’m going to say no,” Clover answered. “Either way you're outnumbered 2 to 6 get out now.”

“Understood,” Storm said. He turned to Star who nodded in agreement. “We’ll head back to the way we came.”

As they moved, they were careful not to trip or make a sound to alert their intruders. Soon they found the gap in the fence they went through to get in. After they headed straight to the car and got in. Their home free. For now.

“Crisis avoided,” Star said, shutting the door. “Now what?”

“How about you Boy Scouts follow the SUV when it leaves?” Clover asked.

Storm had forgotten Clover was on the phone when Storm and Star made their escape. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“You two just blindly went into a location that possibly is being used by a ragtag gang who opened fire on people. Did you think that was a good idea?” Clover countered.

“Point taken,” Storm admitted. “Can we please get some backup?”

“Way ahead of you. HTR was already on standby because of the recent events. Just keep a soft tail on them till I say so. Also, Buck and Comet have information on Sunray, it turns out he's one of the guys calling the shots and doing the hits.”

“Looks like Buzz was right,” Star smiled. “I’ll buy him dinner and a 12-pack after this.”

“He’ll like that. Getting back on topic, we could finally put an end to the shootings if we catch them in the act.”

“How long till HTR arrives and where are Comet and Buck?” Storm asked.

“They're both roughly four minutes away. They're not far, but we don’t want to alert them and cause unnecessary damage. Focus on the SUV for now, maintain a safe distance, and don't let them catch on. We can't risk you two getting compromised.”

“Copy that,” Storm hung up and sighed. “And now we wait.”

Storm kept his gaze fixed on the entrance to the site, where the SUV had just pulled out. It turned right and sped down the street. Storm quickly followed, keeping a few car lengths between them.

“Any idea where they might be headed?” Star asked. “We could try and cut them off.”

“No idea,” Storm replied keeping his sight on the SUV. “Maybe to another hit. Regardless, we need to be careful. We’re just two against a possible six.”

Storm focused on the road as the SUV weaved through the city streets, navigating the dimly lit avenues with a confidence that made his gut clench. The glow of streetlights flickered overhead. The SUV turned into a strip mall and parked far in the corner where the light post didn’t reach.

Storm entered the same parking lot from a different area. He also turned the lights off not to alarm the SUV they were being followed. Storm hid in the darkness just like their targets.

“Oh shit,” Star whispered as he looked around. “They're here?”

“What is it?”

“This area. It’s a known spot for the Black Hearts. This isn’t good Storm. “Shops in the area. Restaurants, mini marts, and fast food. Alot of bystanders can get caught in crossfire.”

Storm cursed under his breath. They can’t let this escalate or things are going to get ugly. Strom grabbed the car radio. “Clover, we’re at Center Street. What’s our backup ETA?”

There was a brief crackle over the radio before Clover’s voice came through, calming yet urgent. “Two minutes out, Storm. Don’t engage if you don’t need to.”

As they sat in the darkness, Storm noticed a few figures emerging from the SUV. They were dressed in dark clothing. One of them, a tall man with a shaved head, stepped forward, gesturing animatedly toward the entrance of the building.

“That’s Sunray,” Star pointed at the man with the shaved head. “I don’t know that other guy with him. What’s the plan? Just sit here and watch?”

“We have to. We outnumbered and probably outgunned too.”

“Do you think they’re armed?” Star asked putting a hand on his gun.

“Possibly. Sunray is a person of interest, four shootings in two weeks, and not only a gang but a cartel could be involved. Also, these guys don’t strike me as the type to go anywhere unprepared.”

Sunray and the other man stood by the SUV watching the mini-mart closely. They are waiting for someone to come out or go inside the store. Moments later, a vehicle pulled into the lot, a blue pickup. It drove in front of the SUV.

“Do you think that’s their target?” Star asked.

“Could be,” Storm replied, eyes fixated on the scene unfolding before them. “We need to keep our heads clear. If they’re here to make a move, we can’t…”

Before another word could be said. Multiple flashes followed by loud popping sounds came from the SUV’s back window. The muffled pops echoed across the parking lot. Sunray and the man got back in the SUV and peeled out the lot. They left just as fast as they arrived.

“Oh my god, it is them,” Star growled. “Shots fire at Center Street, Silver SUV. Heading North.”

Without missing a beat Storm put the car in gear and turned on his lights and sirens starting the pursuit.

The car quickly caught up to the SUV, but Storm kept a safe distance. They have a weapon in the vehicle, Storm isn’t willing to take the risk of getting too close. They opened fire once, they’ll do it again.

As they barreled down the dimly lit street, the silver SUV darted into a residential area, headlights illuminating the quiet neighborhood that was now being woken up by his lights and sirens. Ahead similar lights and sirens blocked the road. Was that HTR or Buck and Comet? Regardless, they finally had help.

The driver saw the blockade ahead and decided to drive around it by hopping the curb and driving across a house's lawn and driveway slightly damaging the car in the driveway. Storm followed though driving on and off the curb wasn’t as smooth in a sedan.

“This dude is really despite,” Storm commented while driving off the curb and back into the street. “He doing everything he can to get away.”

“The must know were on to them,” Star answered. “They're doing everything they can to get away from us.”

Nearing an interaction the SUV began to turn right when it started to tilt left. Storm watched as the SUV began to lose control and flipped over three times before being stopped by the fence to an apartment complex.

“10-50, 10-50” Star called out over the radio. “Contact EMS and CCFD.”

Storm put the vehicle in park before getting out and drawing his sidearm. Star did the same. They hid behind their doors for cover as backup arrived doing the same. The other officers emerged from their vehicles, weapons drawn, ready for any potential threats.

A solid hour later the area was blocked off. Similar to highway first responder vehicles cover both lanes. Police tape blocked off the area from any unwanted person trying to get too close.

It goes without saying, that the whole neighborhood had been woken up due to everything happening, from the flashing lights and the sound of the crash. Nearby residents and the lights began flicking on in the houses around them. Many came out to see what was happening outside their homes at his hour.

“Well,” Star said clapping his hands together. “That’s one way to close a case and start the weekend.”

Storm shot a sidelong glance at Star, a mixture of relief and frustration washing over him. “Let’s hope this means the shootings stop and things can go back to normal.”

Comet sighs. “You know that’s not how it works. This is going to attract every media outlet in the city. The last thing we need is a bunch of reporters swarming in here.”

“Don’t worry about that,” Buck gestured to the people on the sidewalk who had their phones out taking pictures and videos of the wreck. “Pictures will be all over the internet in less than 10 minutes. Let alone it being on the news in the morning.”

Storm could see Night get out of her car and approach him, her expression serious as she surveyed the wreckage of the SUV. “What do we know?” She asked.

“We followed the SUV from the strip mall. We saw Sunray and another man get out, and they opened fire on a pickup. Then they took off. The SUV rolled over into the fence and that was that. The whole chase lasted for barely a minute,” Star explained. “All six were taken to the hospital, including Sunray. None are likely. We also recovered an MP5 from the SUV.”

Night nodded while rubbing her forehead. “What’s the status of the victims in the pickup?”

Buck shook his head. “DOA. All shots to the chest. The bullets match the ones from the shooting on the highway this morning. There were also 30 grams of drugs in the pickup. They opened fire and just piled out and didn’t know or care about the drugs, so I’m gonna say this was a setup. To take down another Black Heart member.

“Looks, like Star’s right.” Comet piped up putting away her phone. “Phantom and Clover checked out the construction site. In one of the partly finished homes, they had a whole setup. Maps, names, and even the blue Mazda from this morning are hidden behind a mountain of dirt in the corner of the site. The cherry on top is the construction site cameras and street cameras have film of them coming in and out of there for the past three weeks. So, unless they have a great lawyer they're all done.”

“So, that’s it?” Storm asked. “We're not going after The Mockingbirds?”

“The Mockingbirds are out of our jurisdiction,” Night reminded. “Besides, the only evidence we have is an off-the-books informant. That’ll never hold up.”

Storm exhaled. Night is right. There was no hard evidence that Mockingbirds supplied the shooters. Maybe one of them will talk, but they rather spend years in jail than rat out one of the most dangerous cartels in the world.

“Pack it up,” Night finally said. “Comet I need all witness statements, Buck I want to know everything about our recent victim. DOB, the pickup, and drugs. Storm, Star report from following them to the crash. I need it all on my desk before you all leave. Chief is going to want every single detail.”

Everyone nodded and headed to the vehicles. Storm slid into the driver’s seat, he glanced at Star, who was already pulling out his notebook, jotting down details from the pursuit.

“Notes?”

Star nodded still writing in the small book. “It’s pretty much cut and dry. Shouldn’t take us long.”

Storm turned the ignition, and the engine roared to life. “Why do feel like this isn’t over? With the Mockingbirds?”

“Because it’s not. I saw Sunray's face when we pulled him out of the SUV. He was afraid and I don’t think it was because of the crash, us pointing guns, or doing time. “Maybe he was scared of something else.”

“Or maybe he’s scared of who he works for,” Storm replied, his voice low. “The Mockingbirds don’t take kindly to loose ends. If they think Sunray is going to spill anything, they might come after him, even in jail.”

Star closed his notebook and looked out the window at the growing crowd. “Well, our job is done for now. Wake me up when we're back at the office.”

Storm put the car in drive and began the trip back to the office after a long night.

Author's Note

Hey everyone guess who's back!?
Sorry that I've been MIA for the past five months I have had a streak of bad luck happen to me including my laptop being stolen. Luckily I got it back.
I plan on completely rewriting the previous Chapter Festival due to it being rushed and not turning out the way I wanted it to. The next chapter will hopefully be posted in late February or early March.
Also, before I go has anyone else been playing Marvel Rivals?