Page 53 of Fire and Smoke (Nothing Special #9)

God

A cluster of microphones buzzed on top of the wooden podium on the steps outside the precinct.

Dozens of reporters were crammed shoulder to shoulder with cameras perched on tripods, the lenses pointed at God’s face.

God and Hart stood in front, with Day on the other side of him. Syn and Ro flanked them with their arms crossed, looking as if they wanted to be anywhere but there. Wes and Law lingered half in shadow, tossing anxious glances back and forth at each other.

The deputy mayor smoothed his hand over his toupee before he stepped up to the microphones.

“Tonight, the City of Atlanta owes a great debt of gratitude to Lieutenants Godfrey and Day’s task force and the exceptional SWAT team who works alongside them. The war on drugs in this city is far from over. But we won this round of the battle. And we did it without a single life lost!”

Applause and cheers rose from the crowd until the deputy mayor raised his hand to quiet them.

“We seized a record number of illegal narcotics and eleven violent criminals are off our streets today and will be for a very long time.”

Hands shot up in the air from every reporter, and God wanted to turn and walk away.

“Mayor Whitaker, what charges will Mercer be facing?”

“Is there evidence tying him to any murders?”

“Why did it take so long for this operation to get underway? And is it possible Mercer might get off again on another technicality?”

Mayor Whitaker leaned in, answering firmly.

“Mercer faces multiple federal and state charges. Drug trafficking, conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute, assault on a police officer, and organized crime. As for murder, that investigation is ongoing. There’ll be no technical errors.

The bust was the result of tireless planning and brave execution by Day and Godfrey’s team and the SWAT unit. ”

A woman shouted from the third row, “Mr. Mayor, was there an informant inside the task force tipping off Mercer? It’s rumored that’s what took so long to bring him down.”

Mayor Whitaker hesitated for a beat.

“I’ll let Lieutenant Godfrey speak to his operational details.”

I bet you fuckin’ will, coward.

Whitaker stepped back and gestured him toward the mic.

God towered over the podium, hating that he had to bend a little so he could be heard. He felt like a dumbass, glaring at the crowd as if trying to relay his thoughts through osmosis.

Y’all motherfuckers better not ask me something stupid and piss me off.

“There are no informants in my unit. My team worked clean and by the book. And tonight, we shut Mercer down…for good.”

Another voice butted in, “Lieutenant, do you have any regrets or disappointments about how the operation went down?”

God shook his head. “Only regret I have is that we didn’t take Mercer off the streets sooner.”

He paused and glanced at Wes and Law.

“But let me tell y’all something important. This win tonight…” God jabbed his pointer finger into the podium. “Couldn’t’ve been as successful without those two men right there.”

He stared a long moment at Wes and Law.

“Wesley Drake and Lawson Sheppard are two of the best consultants my team’s ever worked with.

They sacrificed and trained for weeks to integrate their skills into our operation.

First, they saved my life, and when I saw what they were capable of, they didn’t hesitate to answer the call and come on to help us.

Their love for their hometown and general selflessness were evident the entire time.

They showed immense discipline, courage, and innovation.

Without their fire and smoke devices, tonight’s bust wouldn’t have been as safe as it was.

They’re heroes, and I’m proud as hell to have worked beside them. ”

Law’s and Wes’s eyes were huge under the onslaught of flashing cameras. It’d probably been a while since a crowd had shown them appreciation and not disdain.

The press went crazy, clapping and screaming their names as a flood of questions was directed at them.

“Wes! Law! What are you going to do now that this is over?”

“Wes, was it terrifying using movie effects in a real-life situation?”

“Let’s have them come up to answer those questions.” God motioned for them to come over.

Okay, he’d done his part. This was their moment. He hoped they seized it.

Law cleared his throat, managing a small grin.

“Uh…no comment on movie deals. We were just glad we could help, like God said. Law and I both grew up in Atlanta, so it was important to us to help keep it safe.”

“Would you work with Day and Godfrey’s task force again?”

“Do you guys plan on going back to Hollywood, or are you changing careers and going into law enforcement?”

Wes chuckled. “Law and I are confident in our skills. Since we left LA, we’ve been honing them, respecting the elements, and growing more disciplined. So we were confident using our skills in serving the warrant.

“Neither of us wants to change careers—special effects is our life—but fuck yeah, we’d come back and rock with these guys anytime.”

God smiled at Law. He hated to admit it, but he’d grown to actually like them.

The press kept shouting, but God raised a hand.

“That’s all for today. We’ve had a long night.”

As God turned to leave, a loud, irritating voice cut through the noise.

“Day, Godfrey, Channel 11. Isn’t it true that your task force is being audited for your disregard of field protocol, excessive property damage, civilian endangerment, and chain-of-command violations?

I mean, I can go on and on.” The reporter gave them a disapproving snarl.

“The city has a right to know the truth.”

Day slammed his hand down on the podium like a judge banging his gavel.

“Shut the fuck up, Dyson! You wouldn’t know the truth if it crawled up your ass and introduced itself, much less be able to report it.”

A ripple of laughter rolled through the stunned crowd.

Some of the camera operators turned to get shots of Dyson’s open mouth and outraged expression.

Reporters kept firing questions that went unanswered as the team ambled back into the precinct.

God grabbed Wes’s hand, then Law’s, shaking them firmly.

“You kept your word. And I kept mine.”

Day leaned in and clapped Law’s shoulder. “Don’t be strangers, boys.”

Syn and Ro both shook their hands. “Thanks, guys. For everything. You kicked ass last night.”

Law barked a breathless laugh as Wes shook his head, sighing as if relieved they were done.

God led his team back to their office, leaving the cameras flashing behind them and reporters still shouting at their backs.