He moved withershins of the crowd, pushing and shoving into the subway station. Screams filled the air as one voice boomed, “Don’t come any closer! I won’t hesitate to kill him.”
Darius pulled his badge out of his leather jacket as he came through the mob and into the abandoned station. White and green tiles crisscrossed the dingy platform, concrete columns lining the edge by the subway tracks. Three other cops surrounded the area, guns raised. Kneeling by the tracks was Darius’s partner, Detective Ramero. Above him stood a kid. Gun in his hands, muzzle on Ramero’s scalp.
Darius stepped in front of one of the cops, blocking his angle. “Caleb, put it down.”
The teen shook, tears in his eyes. He must’ve been in a scuffle, navy hoodie lopsided, shirt and jeans torn beyond intention, and dark skin bruised.
The detective had a similar outlook, suit wrinkled and button-up torn. “Darius, he’s nuts. Just shoot the kid.”
Wouldn’t he like that. Darius stepped forward, blocking another cop’s angle. He motioned for the third to put it down.
Detective Ramero was counting on appearances. Black kid threatening white cop. No context for the situation. Shoot and be done.
But Darius knew better. He knew Caleb was a straight A student, that he cared for his ill dad and three younger brothers. That his mom was murdered a year ago, a case he’d been working from the beginning. A case Darius finally cracked and was going to make an arrest on. Which he told Caleb about just this morning.
Caleb’s finger came off the trigger, tears pouring down his cheeks. “I’m sorry, D.”
Darius stepped forward and took the gun. Arm around the shaking boy, he turned to the patrol officers. “Arrest Detective Ramero for the murder of Alesha West.”
Looks of surprise outlined their faces, but they apprehended the detective before he bolted.
Darius held Caleb in his arms. “It’s over, buddy. It’s over.”