Chapter 22: Pre-Heist Preparations
Friday, June 29, 2018 - Morning Briefing
Captain Andersen stood at the front of the briefing room, looking more energized than usual. "Tomorrow's Halloween Heist teams have been finalized."
The room exploded in anticipation.
"Team One: Bradford, Chen, Mercer." Tim nodded once, Lucy grinned. I felt the pressure immediately.
"Team Two: Lopez, West, Nolan." Jackson fist-bumped Nolan. Lopez looked calculating already.
"Team Three..." Andersen paused for effect. "Sergeant Grey and myself."
Stunned silence. Then chaos.
"You're competing?" Lucy asked.
"Against your own officers?" Jackson added.
Grey's eyebrow was at maximum elevation. "Someone has to show you boots how it's done."
Angela Lopez's POV
A captain and sergeant teaming up was unprecedented. But Andersen had always been competitive. And Grey knew every procedure, every regulation, every shortcut in the book.
They were the dark horse team. Experience trumping youth and enthusiasm.
"We're screwed," Nolan muttered.
"We're not screwed," I corrected. "We just need to be smarter."
Jackson pulled out his phone. "I'm making a strategy doc. We meet tonight."
Tim caught my eye across the room. We'd trained together for years. This competition would be personal.
I smiled. He smiled back.
Game on.
Friday Evening - Ethan's Mansion
Lucy Chen's POV
Tim had called a team meeting at Mercer's place. I'd been here before for parties, but Tim hadn't. Watching his reaction to the mansion was worth the drive.
"You actually live here," Tim said. Not a question.
"I actually live here."
"There's a fountain. With koi."
"And peacocks," I added helpfully. "Don't forget the peacocks."
Mercer looked embarrassed. "Can we focus on strategy?"
We settled in what Mercer called "the small living room"—which was twice the size of my entire apartment. Tim spread maps across the coffee table.
"We win through discipline and planning," he started. "Lopez's team will rely on detective skills. Grey's team has thirty years of combined experience. Our advantage is tactical execution and Chen's chaos energy."
I perked up. "Chaos energy?"
"It's a compliment."
"I'll take it."
Tim outlined roles. "Mercer, your memory is our database. Every clue, every location, instant recall. Chen, you know LA streets better than anyone. I'll coordinate and make tactical decisions."
"What about communication?" I asked.
"Group text. No calls unless emergency. Faster, quieter, leaves paper trail for clue documentation."
We drilled scenarios. What if clues led to multiple locations? What if teams collided at the same checkpoint? What if Grey pulled rank to slow us down?
Tim had answers for everything.
Ethan's POV - Late Evening
After Lucy left, Tim lingered. First time we'd been alone in my house.
"This is a lot of house for one person," he observed.
"Yeah. It is."
"You ever get lonely?"
"Sometimes. Less now that I have the team." I grabbed beers from the fridge. "You want one?"
"Sure."
We ended up on the back patio, overlooking the pool. LA's night sky glowed orange from light pollution.
"The shooting," Tim said suddenly. "It doesn't get easier. You just learn to carry it. But for what it's worth, you made good decisions under pressure. That suspect's alive because you didn't freeze."
"You said that before."
"You need to hear it multiple times. First shooting is heavy. I remember mine—nineteen years old, fresh out of the academy, traffic stop gone bad. Guy pulled a knife. I fired twice. He survived." Tim's voice was distant. "I threw up afterward. Couldn't sleep for a week. Thought I'd quit."
"Why didn't you?"
"Because the alternative was letting fear win. And because someone—another officer, older guy—told me the same thing I'm telling you. You carry it. You show up the next day. You save the next person."
We sat in silence. Comfortable, shared understanding.
"The coffee date with Dr. Shaw," Tim said. "That's good. Something normal. Something that's just yours."
"Thanks for covering my shift Saturday afternoon."
"Don't thank me. You're doing me a favor. I don't have to deal with whatever chaos Nolan creates on Saturdays." He finished his beer. "But Mercer? Don't screw this up. She seems like good people."
"I'll try not to."
"Good enough."
Saturday Morning, June 30, 2018 - Pre-Heist, Station Parking Lot
The energy was electric. Officers in civilian clothes, armed with nothing but phones and determination. Families showed up to watch the start. Local news was filming.
Armstrong walked past, coffee in hand. "Mercer's luck versus Lopez's brains versus Grey's experience. Smart money's on the rookie."
Said friendly. Casual. But my lie detection caught something underneath—the tone didn't match the words. Armstrong's smile was performance, not genuine.
My danger sense pulsed. Low-level. Just wrongness.
I filed it away mentally. Tonight's documentation update would include this interaction.
"Thanks, sir," I said neutrally.
He walked away. Tim noticed my expression.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just nervous about the competition."
"Liar. But I won't push." He checked his watch. "We start in ten. Ready?"
Lucy bounded over, practically vibrating with excitement. "I've got the whole city mapped in my head. We're winning this."
"Confidence is good," Tim said. "Overconfidence gets you second place."
"Then it's good I'm perfectly confident."
Captain Andersen's voice boomed across the parking lot. "Teams to starting positions! Heist begins in five minutes!"
I pulled out my phone, ready to document clues. My recall would capture everything perfectly, but having written backup helped.
Jackson's alive because I saved him. Andersen's alive because Armstrong hasn't moved yet. And today, I'm just a rookie competing in a ridiculous scavenger hunt for charity.
Normal. Almost normal.
The heist horn sounded.
We ran.
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