“Yeah, sure.” He sped up.
I’d need to give him attention. Make him see I still loved him even with Sean on board.
“I thought you said he wouldn’t be a problem.”
“He isn’t, Sean. A problem would have meant you were flat on your ass with a blackened eye.”
“He could try, but—”
“You’ve spent the night with his girlfriend. Give him a break.”
“Yeah. I guess.”
“Now come on, let’s see what our detail is.”
Another SWAT team greeted us in the briefing room along with the chief. It was Hal and his guys.
I nodded. “Hey.”
He rarely smiled and tipped his head at me as he gave a gruff, “Morning.”
I liked him. He was great at his job, kept his team tight and had a knack for thinking out of the box when it came to using tactics in unusual situations.
“It’s the big day.” The chief pointed a remote at the TV screen and silenced it. “The verdict.”
I folded my arms. “Okay.”
“And I want you all down there. There’s been a bomb threat.”
“Really? From who?”
“If we knew that, Freya, we’d go pick up their sorry asses.”
Oh, he was in a bad mood. Bomb threats always did that to him. “What I meant is did they claim any allegiance? I mean, it’s not the usual scenario we’re dealing with.”
“You seem to be in bed with these women protestors,” one of Hal’s team said. “Saw you on the news with your little speech.”
“I diffused a situation.” I frowned. “How did the threat come in?”
“Old fashioned letter.”
“Forensics?” Ricardo asked.
“Of course.” The chief nodded. “Nothing yet.”
He stepped up to his projector and turned it on. An aerial view of the courthouse filled the screen. “There’ll be guys on the ground but I want SWAT up here, on the roof.” He tapped it with the control he was still holding. “One on the east wing, one on the west. That will give you good views of the entrance and what’s going on in the lot. But it’s going to be hot up there. I don’t want you dropping like flies. Take breaks, cool down.”
“Yes, chief,” Hal said.
“And spread out. That’s a lot of ground for your sights to cover.”
The thought of lying in the baking sun in all my gear staring down the barrel of my gun didn’t particularly appeal. I much preferred to be ducking in and out of aircon on a day like this. But it was my job and I’d get on with it. If I complained, how could I expect my team to perform?
The chief looked at his watch. “Get yourselves down there soon as. Proceedings kick off in two hours. Protestors are gathering. Anything suspicious, report it in to the officers on the ground. Anyone draws a gun, you know what to do.” He turned away. “Damn this ass-wipe politician, I hope he rots in hell.”
“We got time for a coffee?” Balko asked me quietly.
“Sure, go grab one. I’ll meet you by the van.”