The Smoking Gun

For as long as John had been in law enforcement, he’d never found himself in this position before. He knew the situation was under control. The perp was dead, the victim was in his arms and his partner appeared calm. Had she been through this before?

The perp was dead.

John Biebe could hear something going on around him. He could see the lights of the ambulance approaching. He heard voices. He heard the sound of the young woman in his arms crying softly in her relief, he heard her name being called from a distance, and he heard the sound of Siobhan speaking to him but most of all he heard that shot over and over again.

When he turned his head to look into Siobhan’s eyes, he gave her a blank stare and she knew.

"John, let me have your piece." she said as she lowered her hand. What the hell was she going to do for him now? This was a small town; they didn’t have the facility to debrief an officer over an event like this. Her heart was breaking. She felt helpless and the look in his eyes told her he was spiraling.

"John," she said again. "Your piece, give me your gun."

He blinked a few times, then shifting but still holding Ahnna, she complied. It was a relief to him when Maximus showed up to take Ahnna from his arms. He stood to survey the scene. The body of the man he just killed lie in a puddle of crimson just a few feet away.

The perp was dead.

Alright, he thought to himself. None of this shit, Biebe. Get your act together.

"You alright?"

He heard Siobhan and nodded without looking at her.

"Let’s get this wrapped up, deputy. You’ll have to go with Ahnna to the morgue in Coffs to identify her sister. I’ll be on admin leave for a bit. Figure we should call someone in to investigate. You and White have bias. I know killing the perp was justified but we have to have it cleared by someone else. New South Wales Territorial police I figure."

"Bud would be happy to cover for you as chief."

John nodded to her again. "Get a hold of him now, please."

There were reports to be writing and surely John would have to give a deposition as to why he killed Joe Sweeney. Anyone who was there would know it was necessary but would Ahnna be a viable witness? Would they see bias in his partner? No one else saw it happen that he knew of.

But there was someone else who saw everything. The young horseman peered from around the side of the stable. He heard Ahnna and jumped to see what was going on but when the guns were drawn he took cover against the side of the barn.

Right now , East Driscoll needed a drink.

…and the perp was dead.