Brooklyn's Song (20 page)

Harold quickly pulled his gun from his waistband and grabbed Brooklyn by the arm.

“Are you expecting anyone?”

Harold peered out the window, and smiled. “Just who I wanted to see…Detective Kai.”

“Harold, please, please don’t hurt him. I’ll send him away. Please.”

Harold thought about it for a moment and said, “I’ll be aiming at his chest. If you tip him off in anyway, I’ll kill him, finish off that old lady and make you wish you were dead.”

Harold stood behind Brooklyn out of Song’s view. She opened the door.

“Song, what are you doing here?”

Song could see the fear in Brooklyn’s face. It took every ounce of his will power to keep from running to her and getting her out of harm’s way.

“I wanted to see you.”

“Song, I told you, it’s over, please just go.”

“Okay, look, maybe when you get back to the city I can come over and we can watch your favorite superhero movie Batman and just talk.”

Brooklyn nodded her head with her eyes welling up with tears. “Okay.”

Song felt as if his feet were encased in concrete blocks. He didn’t want to leave her. He heard agent Waters in his earpiece. “Detective Kai …Detective, turn around and walk away. Detective, turn around and walk away!” Agent Waters demanded.

Song slowly turned and proceeded to walk down the driveway and muttered, “The suspect is inside the house.”

“How do you know, did you get a visual?” Agent Waters responded.

“Brooklyn’s favorite superhero is Superman, not Batman,” Song replied.

A loud explosion erupted and something slammed into Song’s back, knocking him off his feet. Song heard Brooklyn’s screams slowly fade as he began to lose consciousness.

Mattice saw the flash from the gun and heard the shot. He watched in horror as Song went down. Four detectives and two police officers had to restrain him.

“Fucking let me go! That’s my partner, that’s my partner!” he shouted, “Let me go!”

“Detective … Detective Blake, you have to calm down. If you run out there, you’re not only endangering your life, but you are also endangering the life of Miss Peirce. As far as the suspect knows, Detective Kai came up here on his own. I will cuff you and put you in a car, if you can’t keep it together,” Agent Waters yelled.

Mattice snatched away from the officers restraining him and ran his hand through his dreads.

Detective Dixon tried to reason with Mattice. “Agent Water’s is right, if you run out there, you’ll be an open target. We don’t want the suspect to turn this into a full-blown hostage situation. The sharp shooters are getting into position. It’s just a matter of minutes before they make it up the hill. We’ll get Detective Kai medical attention.”

“That’s my partner! He may not have a few minutes!” Mattice shouted.

Chapter 75

Harold quickly closed the door.

“See what you made me do?” This is entirely your fault; all your fucking fault!” Harold paced back and forth.

Brooklyn melted to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. ‘You didn’t have to shoot him …You …You... Didn’t have to shoot him,” she cried.

“We have to get out of here. Someone is going to call the police, if they heard the shot or if they see his body lying out there. We have to go now!” Harold yelled.

Brooklyn felt nothing but contempt and rage. She ran over to Harold pounding him with her fists. He blocked his face. Then he backhanded her. She fell to the floor as the salty taste of blood pooled in her mouth. He walked over and grabbed a handful of her hair and pressed the gun to her temple.

“Don’t you ever hit me again, do you understand that, don’t ever hit me! You ungrateful bitch. Now go clean yourself up, so we can go.”

Brooklyn’s head was pounding and she felt dazed. Harold yanked her off the floor by one arm and shoved her towards the bathroom with the gun pressed against her back. She was little unsteady. He went inside and looked around the bathroom.

“You have five minutes to make yourself presentable.”

As soon as the bathroom door closed, Brooklyn turned the water on in the sink and rinsed the blood out of her mouth. Her lip was beginning to swell. She quietly opened the medicine cabinet, looking for a razor or anything she could use for a weapon. It was completely empty. The window was too small to climb out. She left the water running in the sink and sat on the toilet seat with her head in her hands. She began to cry.

She cried for Song; he came here to save me; if only I was able to let him know how much I love him, Brooklyn thought. She saw no way out and stared silently into the mirror as time seemingly stood still. She couldn’t accept what she thought was inevitable and knew exactly what to do. Brooklyn flushed the toilet, so Harold wouldn’t get suspicious, and quickly reached on her tip toes and removed the antique brass shower rod from the wall. She slid the curtain along with the hooks off onto the floor.

Harold banged on the door. “Hurry up in there!”

“I’ll be right out.”              

Brooklyn gripped the rod tightly and quickly opened the bathroom door and stepped out.

“What the hell were you doing in-?’’

She swung the shower rod using every ounce of strength she could summon and heard the crushing sound of breaking bone. Like an open spigot, blood spurted from Harold’s nose and mouth. His primal scream sounded like a wounded animal. When he brought his hands to his face; she struck him in the groin with such force, it brought him to his knees. Still clutching the rod, Brooklyn ran passed Harold and toward the front door. She nervously fumbled with the lock, opened it and ran down the driveway towards Song’s body. When she reached him, she dropped to her knees crying and calling out his name.

“Hold your fire! Hold your God damn fire!” Agent Waters yelled, “The victim is out of the house; approach with caution and secure the premises.”

Brooklyn knelt beside Song. “You came here to save me, and... I’m so sorry…I’m so sorry. Song, I love you. I love you so much,” she cried.

Police officers and emergency personnel advanced their way up the hill.

“Get up, Song, please, please, you can’t leave me.”

She heard the most beautiful sound. "Ja-gi-ya, don’t cry.”

Song coughed a few times and gently rolled over on his back. His forehead was bruised and bleeding. He slowly sat up and touched Brooklyn’s swollen cheek.

“Ja-gi-ya .”

She glanced at the hill again. “Help is coming, don’t try to move.”

The sound of his voice and seeing that he was still alive was more than Brooklyn could take. She unleashed an emotional torrent of words.

“I thought you were dead and that …and that…” She could hardly bring herself to say the words. “That I lost you ...There’s just so much I wanted to tell you. I wanted to tell you-“

“Shhh, I know, it’s okay, it’s okay,” he whispered.

Brooklyn leaned in to give Song a hug and he suddenly pushed her aside. He fired two shots, striking Harold in the upper torso. Harold dropped his gun, stumbled backwards and fell.

The Swat team surrounded the suspect like a pack of wolves on a hunt.

Song lowered his weapon and reached for Brooklyn. She wrapped her arms around him making sure not to put too much pressure on his chest.

Mattice, Agent Waters, Detective Dixon and emergency personnel stormed the hill racing toward the house.

Mattice reached Song and Brooklyn first. He patted Brooklyn on the back. “It’s okay, let the paramedics take a look at him.”

Mattice helped Brooklyn to her feet and placed a blanket around her shoulders. The paramedics pulled a stretcher over to Song.

“Rose, we have to get to Rose, “Brooklyn said.

“Her son alerted the authorities when he couldn’t reach her by phone,” Detective Dixon said,
“She’s being airlifted to the hospital right now.”

Song lie back on the stretcher and Brooklyn held his hand as two paramedics pushed it down the driveway. She bent down and kissed him before they moved him into the chopper.

“I’ll see you in a bit,” she said.

He smiled. “Okay.”

Mattice got into the helicopter with Song. Mattice yelled to Brooklyn as she was leaving.

“Don’t worry Brooklyn, he’s in good hands. By the way…I took a look at Harold…Nice swing!

Brooklyn heard barking and turned around. Bella ran to her, leaping in her arms, almost knocking her down.

“Bella, Bella!” she said, gleefully.

“Partner, you had me worried, there,” Mattice said.

“You know, I took your fashion advice…and for once it paid off.”

“My fashion advice?” Mattice said, sounding confused.

“Yeah…The Kevlar vest. You said it would go great with my black slacks.”

Mattice burst out laughing. “My grandmamma always says: ‘Even a fucking broken clock is right twice a day.’”

Song tried not to laugh; the pressure on his ribs was too much. “Hey don’t take off yet, Song yelled. Don’t take off!”

The pilot looked at Song. “Sir, we have to get you to the ER.“

“I know, I have to do something first. Please, give me just five minutes.”

Mattice unfastened Song’s restraints and helped him out of the chopper. Song winced as his feet touched the sand.

Mattice watched Song walk towards the sea. Song stood and looked out over the ocean. The full silver moon shone bright in the blackened sky. Song slipped his gold chain over his head.

“Ji-Hye, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of you…That I don’t miss you. On our wedding day you told me that you will love me forever, and that my happiness is your only concern.  After you passed away I stopped feeling. It was like I was just going through the monitions in life. Then I met Brooklyn and that all changed. It’s time. It’s time for me to let you go and to stop clinging to the past. I have to look to the future. Brooklyn is my future.” He kissed their wedding rings and tossed the chain into the ocean. “Goodbye Ji-Hye,” he whispered.

Chapter 76

As soon as Brooklyn walked through the hospital doors, her father ran to her. He held his hands on her shoulders taking inventory of her injuries. He wept when he saw her bloodied swollen lip and bruised cheek. She wrapped her arms around him and cried as he stroked her hair.

“Thank God, you’re alright.”

“Sir, we have to take a look at your daughter’s injuries,” An approaching female doctor said.

“Hello, I’m Doctor Muniz.”

Brooklyn and the governor broke their embrace, and introduced themselves to the doctor.

“I would like to see Rose, if I may,” Brooklyn asked.

“I just peeked in on Ms. Davis; she’s awake and with her son. I can give you two a few minutes; just let me check with them first to see if it’s okay.”

The governor, Brooklyn and Dr. Muniz walked to Rose’s room. The doctor knocked before entering. A man with a brush cut and the same dark complexion as Rose sat in a chair by her bed.

“Mr. Davis, this is Governor Peirce and his daughter Brooklyn; they wanted to see your mom, if you don’t mind.”

He stood and shook both their hands. “I’m Langston.”

Rose lie in the bed with a fresh strip of white gauze on her cheek. She reached out her arms and said in a dry weak voice, “Come, child.”

Brooklyn hurried over to Rose’s side, leaned in and cried on Rose’s tiny shoulder.

“Let’s give them some privacy,” Langston whispered.

The governor and doctor Muniz followed him out of the room.

Rose patted Brooklyn’s back. “You’re safe now, you’re safe. I have a few lumps and bumps, but I’m going to be fine. I think we’re both going to be just fine,” Rose said.

“I’m going to give your son my address and phone number; please tell you’ll keep in touch, Rose.”

“I certainly will. Your mom was right…You are a ‘fighter.’”

Brooklyn kissed Rose on her cheek before leaving the room.

The governor went with Langston to visit with Rose while Brooklyn was being examined.

Brooklyn sat on the gurnee while doctor Muniz checked her over.

“Miss. Peirce, I have to ask; is it necessary for us to do a rape kit?”

Brooklyn was mortified at the thought. “No, that’s not necessary. He didn’t rape me.”

Dr. Muniz breathed a sigh of relief. “Okay, I don’t think you’re lip is going to need stitches. I’ll give you an icepack, get your cuts cleaned up and you’ll be good to go.”

Song’s X-rays revealed that he had two broken ribs. Doctor Muniz told him that the vest saved his life. After his ribs were taped and he was given a prescription for pain medication, he was in the process of dressing when there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” Song said.

Mattice walked in and noticed the disappointed look on Song’s face.

“Nice to see you too, buddy,” Mattice said, sarcastically.

“Sorry, I thought you were-“

“Brooklyn?” You know, she’s really putting a dent in our relationship. He laughed. Brooklyn is in the waiting room,” Mattice said, “Hurry up and get out there, the governor wants to whisk her away, but she told him she wasn’t leaving until she saw you.”

Mattice turned and was walking out the door, when Song called to him.

“Is there any news on Harold’s condition?”

“He’s in the ICU; the doctors think he’s going to make it. He was shot once in the right shoulder and once in the hip. I’m hoping that he pulls through so that his victims can have their day in court.”

“Mattice, is she okay? He didn’t hurt her, did he?”

“Brooklyn’s fine, just a couple of minor cuts and bruises. She gave her statement to the police; she wasn’t sexually assaulted.”

Song sighed, “Mattice thanks, for everything. You saved my life out there today. If you didn’t tell me to wear the vest….”

Mattice smiled. “You can thank me by making things right with Brooklyn.”

Song raised one eyebrow. “You mean my ‘dime piece.’”

“No, she’s much, much more than that!” Now get your ass out there. Don’t keep her waiting…   “’Happiness, not in another place but this place...not for another hour, but this hour.'”

"Let me guess, your grandmamma?”

Mattice grinned, “No, Walt Whitman.”

“I should have known it wasn’t your grandmamma, you didn’t drop the f-bomb.”

Song heard Mattice’s boisterous laugh all the way out in the corridor.