Chapters from the life of John Vero

[Vero]

Veros heart rate quickened as he moved out into the hallway. It was dark except for a few dim overhead lights that did little to hold back the darkness except in small widely spaced pools of light.
He could see a streetlamp in the distance through a window at the end of the hall nearest the target room.
He crept closer to the door that surveillance had identified as where the hostage was being held. Veros job was to secure and shield the hostage in that room while other officers took down the kidnapper.

There on the stairwell were the two other officers moving slowly up the main stairwell. Guns trained on an open doorway. From the changing light and sounds coming from the room it was obvious that an entertainment holo-vid was playing in the room.
As the officers on the stairs neared the top a door diagonally across the hall from the target room opened. A man stepped into the hall between Vero and the stairway. From the light that poured through the doorway Vero could see that he was dressed in slacks and a t-shirt with a holster strapped under his left arm. It was Andre Lankey.

Lankey saw the two officers nearing the head of the stairs and pulled his pistol. Knowing the possibility of hitting Vero the two officers held fire and moved quickly back down the stairway. Likewise Vero could not fire at the mans back without the possibility of hitting his teammates down the hall, so that left only one option.
When the kidnaper raised his gun to aim at the officers on the stairs Vero tackled him from behind. He chopped downward on the mans gun arm as he did, knocking the gun from his grasp. Vero rolled through the move and came out in a fighting position.

Vero was now between Lankey and the other officers. Neither of them could get a clear shot at him.
The kidnapper was a bit dazed as he got to his feet. As he did he pulled a small fighting knife from a sheath at his side. He charged for Vero, the knife held out ahead of him and pointing for Veros ribs.
Vero was ready for him.
He blocked the knife arm with a backhand snap of his right arm, rolled his hand over and grabbed the kidnappers wrist. As Lankeys momentum carried him, Veros left hand found a grip on Lankeys belt. Vero pulled, turned and threw his attacker toward the wall at the end of the hall. Lankey collided hard against the wall, but recovered and turned on Vero, the knife still held in his hand. Vero stepped forward quickly and brought his right leg up to plant a solid side kick into Lankeys chest. The blow took the wind out of Lankey as it lifted him from his feet and threw him backwards. There was the sound of glass breaking, and Lankey disappeared from view. Hed been knocked through the window at the end of the hallway.
Time stood still for a second or two and then there was a loud crash from below.

Immediately after that Vero heard a crackle in his earpiece. For all our sakes, I hope that wasnt the hostage.

Veros voice activated the mic that hung below his left ear, Trust me, Captain, it wasnt.