Chapter 89 – "Instinct and Courage"
11:37 AM | Mild-Wilshire Police Station – Main Wing
The atmosphere in the station was tense.
All activity had suddenly stopped. Officers stood with their weapons drawn, sheltering behind desks, pillars, and cabinets. The usual hubbub had been replaced by a tense silence, broken only by Captain Zoe Anderson's calm, firm orders.
Gustavo Silva, who was in the administrative area that day finalizing reports, heard the first signs that something was wrong when he saw two receptionists hurriedly retreating. As he emerged from the side corridor, it didn't take long for him to understand: there was an armed man, nervous, breathing heavily, holding a civilian woman hostage—she was crying softly, pressed against his chest, his trembling hand holding a pistol close to her neck.
He immediately recognized the captain's voice.
"Hey... listen. My name is Zoe Anderson. I'm the captain here. You don't have to do this. Let's talk, okay?" she said, with a calmness that contrasted sharply with the situation.
Gustavo watched from afar. He noticed the captain had a small cut on her left eyebrow. He heard whispers from his colleagues: "He punched her earlier." "The Captain was with Chen. It all happened quickly."
His gaze narrowed. He knew Zoe was tough, but standing there, face to face with the man who had assaulted her, and still maintaining her posture to protect the victim? That was something else. That was leadership. That was courage.
11:42 AM | Main Room – Set Composition
The hostage was a document clerk. The gun was pressed under her jaw, her hands visibly shaking. The man, white, about six feet tall, wearing loose, sweaty clothes, looked around paranoidly.
"You think you can fool me? I know you've got someone in the background! I know!" he shouted, shifting slightly, still with the woman under his control.
The Captain continued advancing, inch by inch, without making any sudden movements.
"No one's going to hurt you. But you need to let her go, okay? We can talk. Tell her your name." Her voice didn't tremble.
On the other side, hidden behind a filing cabinet, Gustavo moved slowly. He analyzed the space. The man's position. The distance between him, the gun, and the hostage's neck.
His breathing was controlled. His heartbeat, though accelerated, remained rhythmic. He approached the suspect from behind, using every shadow, every ambient noise as cover.
11:46 AM | Action
The Captain took another step, keeping her arms slightly open, as if offering security.
"I took a punch from you today, remember? I'm still here. Not angry, not seeking revenge. I just want to prevent you from making a mistake you can't come back from."
The man hesitated.
Gustavo was a meter away, crouched, waiting for the right moment. He took a deep breath, looked at the man's gun, and then made his move.
With the speed of someone who'd trained for years, Gustavo rose silently, struck the suspect's arm, knocking the pistol away with a technical strike, and pulled the man back in a flawless rear naked choke.
"Let her go, now!" he shouted, his voice firm, as he applied pressure to the right spot on the jugular.
The woman was pushed forward and immediately supported by two officers.
The man struggled, trying to escape, but Gustavo maintained complete control of the situation until the attacker briefly passed out from lack of oxygen.
The Captain rushed over, along with Lucy Chen, Bishop, and two other officers, and handcuffed the man to the ground.
11:48 AM | Post-Tension
The woman was crying, but unharmed. Lucy, still wide-eyed, looked at Gustavo in admiration.
"That tackle... it was like something out of a movie."
Gustavo just shook his head, looking at the Captain.
Zoe's hand trembled slightly, but her gaze remained steady.
"Are you okay?" Gustavo asked.
She looked at him. Her eyebrow was bleeding a little more now, but she nodded.
"I am. Thanks, Silva."
He smirked.
"I think we're even for the punch now."
Zoe let out a weak but sincere laugh.
"You're a damn good son of a bitch at what you do."
— "And you're even tougher than I thought, Captain."
12:10 PM | Captain Anderson's Office
She sat up slowly, finally allowing her body to feel the fatigue. Lucy was there too, with ice on her arm she'd been thrown to the floor during the earlier altercation with the suspect.
"Gustavo, I was her TO today. I think I'll retire from that role," Zoe commented with a tired smile.
"She's doing well," he said, pointing at Lucy. "And so are you. Leadership... that's it."
Zoe shook her head, moved.
"You came in so quietly... I didn't even notice. The next thing I knew, the guy was already passing out."
"I learned that from some quiet friends at JSOC," Gustavo replied with a glint of humor.
Lucy interrupted:
"Do you always save the day like this? Or is it just on Wednesdays?"
"Only on Wednesdays. Thursday is a day off," he laughed.
1:05 PM | Police Station Parking Lot
Bradford, Lopez, Bishop, and other officers were waiting near the patrol car when Gustavo appeared, his shirt already changed, his badge clipped to his belt, his expression calm as ever.
Bradford, with a cup of coffee, stared at him.
"I heard you've gone into ninja mode now."
"Something like that," Gustavo replied, taking the cup of coffee Lucy handed him.
Bishop gave him a gentle shove on the shoulder.
"You saved the Captain. That's no small feat."
Gustavo stared at the group.
— "At that moment, it wasn't the Captain. It was a person facing another weapon. She protects us every day. Today, it was my turn."
2:12 PM | End of shift
Zoe looked at Gustavo before signing off.
— "Do you have free time next week?"
— "Some. Why?"
— "I want you to help us review our internal protocols. Based on what happened today. You have the right mindset. And the experience."
He nodded.
— "You can count on me."
Zoe approached, extended her hand.
— "Thank you again."
Gustavo shook her hand respectfully.
— "We're together, Captain. Always."
Chapter 90 – "Behind the Scenes of the Law"
7:15 AM | Mid-Wilshire Police Station – Captain's Office
It was early. The sun barely penetrated the station's windows, but there was already activity. Gustavo arrived with his usual coffee, wearing his impeccable uniform and his always firm posture. As soon as he passed the reception desk, a message pinged on his cell phone:
Captain Anderson:
Can you come by my office as soon as you can? We have an urgent legal matter. I called the sergeant too.
Gustavo Silva replied quickly:
Coming now.
He took a deep breath. It wasn't uncommon to be called in to help with legal matters—since he had become an independent officer and taken over some of the station's informal legal duties, his reputation as a "Swiss Army knife" had only grown.
He knocked on the captain's office door, which was ajar.
"Captain?"
"Come in, Gustavo," Zoe said, her gaze serious but welcoming. Beside her, Sergeant Grey was reviewing documents with a visibly worried expression.
Gustavo entered and sat down.
"What happened?"
Zoe exchanged a glance with the sergeant before beginning:
"We have a problem with a case closed three months ago. One of the suspects, arrested during a SWAT operation, is trying to invalidate the arrest, claiming a protocol violation and excessive use of force. He has a new lawyer..."
"A high-profile lawyer," Grey added. "The kind who likes to sue the police to get in the news."
"The problem," Zoe continued, "is that the original report lacks details. The officer who conducted the arrest apparently omitted the source of the anonymous tip that led to the search warrant. And now, they want to use that to request the suppression of evidence."
Gustavo frowned, picking up the documents.
"And what was the real source?"
"A tip made directly to me by a protected source working in the county intelligence service," Zoe explained. "At the time, I preferred to keep it confidential until the warrant was executed, and then the agent was supposed to provide details, under seal, in another attachment. But he didn't."
"And now," the sergeant said, crossing his arms, "we have a federal judge asking for explanations. And if we can't prove the operation was legal, that leaves this guy open to leaving. And worse: he'll sue the department for millions."
Gustavo took a deep breath, analyzing the sheets.
"Captain, this protected source... is he still active?"
"Yes. But if he's exposed, we could compromise larger investigations. Including the FBI's."
Gustavo nodded slowly.
"So let's play by the rules, but strategically. I can write a legal opinion based on the concept of the 'good faith exception.' Since the information was provided by a legitimate source, even if not identified in the first report, we still have legal standing."
"Good faith?" Grey raised an eyebrow.
"It's an accepted principle in federal trials. If a police officer acts with a reasonable belief that he's within the law, even if there's a procedural error, the evidence can remain valid. As long as..."
"...there's no bad faith or intent to circumvent the system," Zoe added, stepping forward.
Gustavo smiled.
"Exactly."
8:10 AM | Computer Room – Digital Archive
Gustavo sat in front of the computer, accessing old reports. He needed to see the report from the officer who executed the arrest, cross-reference it with the warrant data, and build the exact timeline to mount his legal defense.
Angela Lopez, passing by, stopped when she saw him absorbed in the screen.
"Are you meddling behind the scenes in the justice system again?"
"Problems with warrants and a poorly filed anonymous complaint," he said, without taking his eyes off the monitor. "If we don't handle this properly, we could lose the case and win a lawsuit."
Angela approached, picking up one of the printed reports.
"This agent here... he was the one who left for the Northern Patrol, right?"
"Yes. And he left a void in the paperwork. But we'll fill that gap."
She touched his shoulder.
"If anyone can do it, it's you. Harvard didn't go for nothing."
He gave a half-smile.
"And you're always my personal prosecutor."
9:27 AM | Meeting Room – Opinion Writing
Sitting with his laptop, papers around him, and the penal code printed out, Gustavo typed nonstop. The meeting room was silent, the sound of keys marking the rhythm of the presses.
Each paragraph of the opinion was accompanied by case law, articles of the code, and legal precedents. He wrote clearly, using formal but objective language, explaining how the flaw in the report did not compromise the legality of the operation, since the origin of the complaint was legitimate and could be proven under seal.
He cited U.S. Supreme Court decisions on protected sources and the use of police operational good faith. Each reference was a brick in the foundation of the defense.
10:15 AM | Captain's Office – Presentation of the opinion
Gustavo delivered Zoe the bound document.
"Captain, this is the legal opinion. I've included federal case law and attachments with documents proving the source's legitimate activity."
Zoe scanned the pages, impressed.
"You did this in two hours?"
"Less. And with weak coffee," he joked.
Grey took the material and read in silence for a few minutes.
"This... is the stuff of a federal law firm. Not a patrol station."
Gustavo crossed his arms.
"That's exactly the intention. If the suspect's lawyer wants to play smart, we'll show that the LAPD knows how to defend itself with the right weapons."
Zoe looked up.
"I should make you the station's legal chief."
"Only if you get a raise and days off," Gustavo said, laughing.
12:40 PM | Police Station Cafeteria – Lunch with Colleagues
Sitting with Angela, Bishop, Bradford, and Chen, Gustavo recounted the details of the situation between bites.
"So you basically saved the department from a five-million-dollar lawsuit?" Bradford asked, admiring.
"I just gave them a push with some nice words," Gustavo said modestly.
Chen took a sip of juice.
"I think you should teach law classes to newbies."
"I already do, remember?" Gustavo retorted. "But no one pays attention when I talk about case law."
"I'm good!" Lucy said, raising her hand.
Angela nudged him with her elbow.
"Yes, you are. And now you've saved more than just a lawsuit. You've saved the reputation of the police station."
3:00 PM | Captain's Office – Return of the Department's Legal Officer
A call came in: the LAPD's legal team praised Gustavo's opinion, calling it "well-founded, clear, and defensible in any federal court." The protected source was allowed to be validated under judicial seal, the warrant was upheld, and the case against the police was dismissed.
Zoe called Gustavo again.
"I have just one more thing to say..."
He raised his eyebrows.
"It's not a promotion, is it?"
She laughed.
"Not yet. But if I could, I'd put your name on the wall. You saved our asses today."
Gustavo nodded seriously.
"We're together, Captain. Whenever you need us."
Chapter 91 – "The 20-David Beat"
9:12 AM – SWAT Base | Los Angeles – 20-David
The SWAT tactical unit's courtyard was quiet, with only the scattered sounds of routine training echoing in the distance. Gustavo had been there since early. He was dressed in the black tactical uniform of the 20-David, his ballistic vest precisely fitted, and his HK416 slung on a sling across his chest. His eyes scanned a tablet, reviewing material he was updating on communication in hostage negotiations.
Across the courtyard, Hondo and Deacon adjusted their Ops-Core helmets and spoke quietly with Cris Alonso – who was now not only his girlfriend, but also his teammate.
Gustavo felt a light tap on his shoulder.
"Are you studying… again?" Luca said, with a slightly disbelieving smile.
Gustavo looked up.
— "Just reviewing some intervention guidelines. You never know when you'll need to be the negotiator and the shooter at the same time."
Before they could exchange any more words, the unit's radio crackled.
"All units 20-David, urgent call. Possible hostage situation at a bank in Westlake. Possible heavy weapons on site. Assemble at the truck now."
The team reacted like a well-oiled machine. Within seconds, helmets were strapped on, rifles checked, ammunition counted, vests adjusted, and the door of the Blackbett armored vehicle was opened.
9:24 AM – On the move
The muffled sound of the armored vehicle's engine mingled with the tense atmosphere and the vibration of vests. Inside the vehicle, the air smelled of leather, metal, and concentration.
Hondo picked up the internal radio and began the briefing:
"Central reports four suspects have stormed a bank branch in Westlake. Two are heavily armed, visuals confirmed with AR-15s. At least six hostages are inside. A security guard was shot at the entrance and has already been taken to the hospital. So far, the suspects haven't made contact. We don't know their motives."
Cris, next to Gustavo, took a deep breath.
"Does anyone have a visual of the back?"
"Negative," Tan replied. "But drones are on their way."
Gustavo looked at the group.
"If they haven't made contact yet, they either have no plan or are waiting for something. We need to be ready for both scenarios."
Deacon nodded.
"If they have a civilian hostage as a bargaining chip, they'll try to buy time. But the silence is what worries me."
Hondo concluded:
"Gustavo, you and Cris will go with me to the main entrance. Tan and Deacon will cover the side. Luca, you cover the roof. No shots fired until the threat is fully confirmed. Let's do this cleanly."
9:33 AM – Incident Location | Westlake National Bank
The armored vehicle braked with tactical precision. The team exited quickly and silently, taking up positions. Gustavo immediately ducked behind a concrete barrier improvised by the patrol already on site. He adjusted the EOTech sight on the HK416 and activated the SureFire flashlight, already in low-intensity mode.
The deputy in command of the patrol, Lieutenant Wilkins, approached.
"Thank God you're here. Internal cameras are offline. The manager last contacted me twenty minutes ago. He said one of the hostages is a child."
Hondo and Gustavo exchanged a look.
"Have you tried communicating?" Hondo asked.
—"We called. They're not answering. Absolute silence."
Gustavo approached Cris, who was calibrating his radio.
"We have to consider the possibility that something has already gone wrong inside."
Cris took a deep breath. The city air seemed thicker on days like these.
"Let's change that."
10:02 AM – First Maneuver: The Silent Proximity
Cris, Gustavo, and Hondo moved slowly along the sides of the bank, while Tan and Deacon covered the flank. Gustavo kept his breathing controlled, each step measured, the tip of his rifle following his gaze.
A drone had been launched by Luca and was flying discreetly overhead.
"Movement in the back," Luca reported over the radio. "One of the suspects is looking out the window. AR-15 confirmed. But he seems nervous."
Hondo whispered:
"Let's try direct contact. Gustavo, come with me. Cris, cover."
Gustavo followed Hondo to the bank's front door. He picked up the megaphone and took a deep breath before speaking.
"This is Officer Hondo Harrelson of the LAPD. We know you're in there. Don't make any rash moves. We want to talk."
Silence.
More silence.
Then, a tense, metallic, slightly trembling voice came from inside:
"You're not coming in. We just want to leave. No one needs to die."
Gustavo recognized the pattern. Young. Scared. Improvising.
He calmly picked up the megaphone:
"What's your name? Let's talk, no one needs to get hurt. Tell me who I'm talking to."
Another pause. Then:
"Get Dean. Dean Summers."
Gustavo exchanged a look with Hondo. He continued:
"Dean, you said you don't want to hurt anyone. That's good. Tell me how many people are in there with you."
— "I have three more with me… and six hostages. One of them… is a little girl, okay? She's fine. But… but no one tries to break in!"
10:23 AM – Second Movement: The Pressure
As they negotiated, Gustavo observed the details: the way Dean spoke, the rhythm of his voice. He concluded:
"Hondo, this guy isn't the leader. He's repeating things. He's waiting for orders."
Hondo nodded. "We need to find the leader. And fast."
Deacon came over the radio:
"We identified another suspect through the side window. He's wearing a bulletproof vest. He seems calm. He's probably the alpha."
Gustavo thought quickly.
"If this is the leader, he's on a different frequency. He probably doesn't want to negotiate. We can use Dean."
"Do you think you can bring him to our side?" Hondo asked.
"If he's scared enough… yes."
Gustavo picked up the megaphone again.
"Dean. I know you didn't want to be involved in this." It's not too late to do the right thing."
On the other end, the voice grew louder.
"You don't know anything!"
"I know this isn't your fault. You're being used. And, Dean, once we get in... there's no going back. But if you help now, you can get out of this with dignity. You can save that child."
Tense silence.
10:42 AM - Third Movement: The Handover
After ten minutes of tension, the door opened a crack. Dean emerged with his hands up, crying. Behind him, the eight-year-old girl held his hand tightly.
Cris ran to grab the girl and carry her to the ambulance.
Hondo and Gustavo grabbed Dean and carried him behind the patrol cars.
"How many are still inside?" Hondo asked firmly.
Dean was shaking.
"Two. The leader... his name is Travis. He's freaked out. He's wearing an improvised explosive vest." He said if anyone leaves, he'll blow everything up."
Gustavo's face hardened.
"Are you sure it's real?"
"I saw him setting it up."
11:01 AM – Entry Operation
After confirming the information with the drone and the audio recordings of the negotiation, Hondo decided:
"Let's go in. Alonso, Gustavo, with me. Deacon and Tan will provide lateral containment. Luca will cover the back. Quickly, cleanly, with precision."
They entered from the side with a controlled charge.
The sound of the door exploding was drowned out by the screams from within.
Inside the bank, the room was dark. Gustavo activated his flashlight, sweeping the room with the barrel of his gun.
"Hostages to the left!" Cris shouted.
"Frontal contact!" Hondo yelled.
Travis appeared behind a table, screaming, wires visible attached to his chest.
Gustavo took aim.
"Let go!" Now!"
Travis hesitated. He shouted something inaudible.
Gustavo's finger was firm on the trigger.
Then, a shadow moved quickly it was Cris, circling the flank. Travis turned, and at that moment, Gustavo saw the opening.
"Bang!"
A clean shot to the shoulder. Travis went down.
Hondo held him down while Gustavo checked his vest.
"It's fake," he said, relieved. "LED wires and a broken detonator. It was a bluff."
11:47 AM – Outside the Bank
Hostages were released. Ambulances attended to the victims. The press filmed from afar. Gustavo looked at Cris, exhausted, sweaty, but smiling.
"Good job," he said, offering her a glass of water.
She smiled back.
"Did you see the girl? She came out smiling. That's worth everything."
Hondo approached, patting Gustavo on the shoulder.
"Today you were more than a marksman. You were a negotiator, a strategist, and you even saved the day."
Gustavo sighed, taking in the surroundings.
"I just did what any of us would do."
Deacon, nearby, laughed.
"Not everyone has your Harvard brain and your Tibetan monk's calm, Silva."
Gustavo just smiled.
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