Chapter Eight

As the subject disappeared back into the pharmacy, Ed turned on his heel and headed over to the Sergeant.

"You ok, Eddie?" Greg asked him, taking in the wound on his team mate's face, and searching his eyes.

"I'm fine," Ed brushed aside his concern. "I need a vest and a gun."

"Ed…"

"I'm going back in there Greg, with or without them."

"I know," Greg acknowledged with a nod. "You're going to need this." He handed him a headset.

"Thanks," Ed nodded, fitting the gear around his head.

"Take Wordy and Jules to back you up."

The two cops appeared beside Ed as he fitted his tac vest. Wordy held out his gun. Ed accepted it with a nod.

"Let's go."

.

Ed raised his weapon and stepped through the pharmacy door, scanning the store as he moved. He heard the creak of rubber soles but nothing more as Jules and Wordy entered behind him. He moved silently forward, and saw the subject with his back pressed against the counter to the rear of the store. He was sitting cross legged, staring down at the pistol in his hands. Ed drew back and motioned for Wordy and Jules to circle off to his left and right. They nodded and disappeared. Ed moved slowly forward, and then stopped. Mark was in shock and could react badly to his sudden reappearance, and Ed knew he would seem less threatening if he wasn't moving.

"Mark," he called softly, lowering his weapon slightly so the boy could see his face. Mark looked up at him wearily, and then dropped his gaze.

"Mind if I join you?" Ed asked. Mark shrugged, refusing to make eye contact. Ed crossed the floor and lowered himself onto the tiles a few feet from the subject.

"You need to get him talking Ed," Greg prompted in his ear. "The shock's starting to wear off, he's depressed and exhausted."

"You never really blamed Greg, did you?" Ed asked, but he knew the answer. The whole thing had been a stunt. "Tell me about Jenny – what was she like?"

"She was…" Mark swallowed. "She was beautiful, she had this bit of hair that hung down by her face, that she used to play with when she was nervous." Mark mimed the action as he spoke. Ed smiled encouragingly.

"She had this great laugh, when she laughed it made you want to laugh too. She has this little dimple on her forehead…" Mark rubbed his forehead with a finger and tears starting rolling down his face.

"She… She…" Mark gave up and the tears started falling faster.

"It's ok son," Ed said, reaching an arm around his shoulder. The boy sobbed against him and the cop gently slid the gun from his unresisting hands. Ed saw Wordy from the corner of his eye but shook his head. There was no fight left in the youth.

After a moment, Mark pulled away. Ed gripped his shoulder briefly. The boy's eyes seemed twice their size, scarred red with grief. He scrutinised the cop's face for a moment, weighing something up. Ed waited patiently.

"His name's Jordan. Reed, I think. He has a lock up on Chilton Road. It's where he… I recognised it in the video."

Ed nodded.

"Winnie, dispatch Team 3 to Chilton Road," Ed heard Greg's voice in his ear.

"We'll get them," he promised. Mark leaned his head back against the counter and closed his eyes. In silence Ed watched the rise and fall of his chest, allowing relief to wash over him. Against all odds, it was over without loss of life. Except one, he amended. Uniforms would soon be paying a visit to Jenny's family. He hoped Sophie would never be the recipient of such a visit.

Ed frowned. Mark's chest was still.

"Mark?"

No response. He reached over and gripped the boy's shoulder. His head lolled forward.

"Mark?" he repeated, urgently tugging the glove from his right hand. He extended two fingers and pressed them to Mark's neck. No pulse.

"EMS," Ed called into his mic. "Get me EMS!"

Wordy appeared at his side and together they laid the boy flat. Ed knelt over him and interlocked his fingers, pumping urgently on the subject's chest and counting out each compression. He broke his rhythm to breathe air into Mark's motionless lungs.

"Copy that," Greg replied. "What's happening?"

"Mark's not breathing," Wordy answered. "His heart's stopped."

"Don't you dare. Come on, Mark," Ed urged. His eyes drifted as he counted the compressions, and fell on a discarded syringe.

"Looks like he's taken an overdose."

Wordy followed his gaze and grabbed the empty vial besides the syringe.

"It's Atropine."

"Come on, Mark," Ed growled in frustration.

"Ed…" Wordy put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm not giving up on him!" he snapped, shrugging off his comrade's hand. He heard boots rushing across the floor as the EMTs finally arrived. They crouched beside the boy, one setting up a defibrillator and the other preparing a shot.

.

Aware he was in the way, Ed let his hands drop and backed off, watching the EMT flick the needle and inject its contents into the unconscious subject.

"Clear," the other said, and discharged the defibrillator. Ed watched in silence as the lifeless body sank back to the floor.

"Clear," the medic repeated, shocking the youth again. The cop's heart thudded urgently in his chest in stark comparison to Mark's silent muscle. His eyes flicked between the fallen subject and the medic's face, rigid with tension as he watched for his reaction.

"He's back with us," the medic said briskly. "Let's get him on the stretcher." He looked across at the two cops.

"We need to get him to the hospital."

"I'll come with you," Ed volunteered, helping to lift Mark onto the stretcher.

"Sarge?"

"Go ahead Winnie," Greg answered the voice on the radio.

"Team Three have found Jenny's body. They arrested Reed and two of his foot soldiers on the scene."

"Copy that, thank you Winnie."

Inside the ambulance, Ed sat beside the stretcher, watching the steady rise and fall of Mark's chest. He would have a lot to deal with when he came around, but at least he wouldn't have to worry about Reed; he would be going away for a long time.

The boy's eyes slowly opened. As they focussed on the officer, he frowned in confusion.

"Lane?"

"That's right Mark."

"Why…?"

As the ambulance rumbled to life and drove away, Ed placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"I told you I wasn't leaving buddy."

A/N: If you enjoyed reading "A Bad Day" please leave me a review and let me know. I'm working on several new pieces, so watch this space!