Free Deadly Consequences by Lori Gordon

holding it up to the light, heart pumping hard inside his chest. His head snapped up. “Anybody know where Sam took off to?”
    Rafe cocked his head towards the doorway. “No, man, but she tore out of here in a hurry.”
    “I frickin’ knew it all along.” Lombardo slammed his first into a locker, holding up the picture with two fingers. “Come take a look.”
    Rafe took the picture and squinted at it. “What’s this supposed to be?”
    “Our frickin’ big break. Let’s get the hell out of here. We got work to do.”

     
    She’d left two uniforms guarding the teenagers. Sam raced towards the lagoon. One of them stood a few feet from a patrol van with his back turned towards it. There was no sign of the other officer.
    “Where’s your partner?” Sam demanded
    The officer’s face flushed bright red. “He’s off having a smoke.”
    “And the teenagers?” she asked.
    “They’re in the unit, like you told us.”
    “Uh-uh.” She jerked her thumb towards the vehicle. “And who’s guarding the unit?”
    “My…” his words trailed off, realizing he’d let his partner leave the van unattended
    “Get the boys out here, and you’d better hope like hell none of them try to run,” she said.
    “Yes, ma’am. Right away.”
    Sam slapped her hands on her waist, seething with anger. Nothing was going right tonight.
    Alec jogged up behind her. “What the hell, Sam? Why did you go tearing off by yourself? Let me help.”
    “Not now, Alec.” She shook him off, shouting to the officer. “Keep ‘em there, up against the van.” Sam stalked towards the teens, wearing a grim expression.
    “Looky here, its lady badass.” The scrawny kid named Manny made kissing sounds. “Whatcha want now, lady cop? You come lookin’ for a real man?”
    “Shut up,” she spat.
    The kid feinted to the left, looking past her. “Yo, check it out, man. She bring a pretty boy wit her dis time. No wonder she cum lookin for us, yo. She be wantin’ to see what a real man look like.”
    Alec flew out from behind her, and slammed the kid against the van, pressing his forearm into the teen’s throat. “Show some respect when you talk to her, you prick.” Alec leaned in close, breathing into Manny’s ear. “You disrespect her one more time and I’ll break every god damn bone in your motherfuckin; body. You got that, man ?”
    Manny’s eyes bugged out of his head. “It’s cool, man, it’s cool.
    “It’s all right, Alec, I got this.” Sam pushed herself between them, poking her finger hard into Manny’s chest. “Me and these boys, we got some business to discuss.”
    “Yeah?” Alec said, increasing the pressure on Manny’s throat. “That’s too bad. I’m in the mood to take out some trash.”
    “Hate to spoil your fun, but I got plans for these punks. Guy up in Joliet named Bubba Joe is hard up for a new bitch. I’m thinking any one of these three will do.”
    Alec dropped his arm from the teen’s throat. Manny puffed out his chest and sneered, turning to his buddies. “Check this, Barbie and Ken don’t know how to play the game, yo.” He swung around to face Sam. “Don’t you and pretty boy watch no TV? “
    “Yeah?” Sam grabbed his chin, staring into his eyes. “Tell, me, Manny, how are we supposed to do it?”
    Manny snorted with laughter, making a lewd gesture. “If neither of you know how to do it by now, there ain’t no hope for either of you.”
    Alec grabbed him by the hair. “Answer her damn question, you little fucker, before I make you eat your balls.”
    “Ever hear of good cop, bad cop,” Manny spat on the ground, letting out a nervous laugh. “That’s how you supposed to play, but I don’t see no good cops here.”
    “You know something, Manny? This isn’t TV. This is how we play in real life.” Sam sneered.
    Alec smiled. “Looks like you’re up a creek, Manny.”
    Sam tilted her head toward Alec. “Well, he’s not too smart. All I wanted to do was ask one question. I think