Chapter 5
by 
ScentOfaWoman
...
The Approach
"Thirty seconds to the bullshit," Vic announced, not looking up from his rifle. His voice was flat. Calm. The voice of a man who had stopped being impressed by danger years ago.
The radio crackled from the front.
"Command to Lead Unit. ETA two minutes. Confirm."
Vic reached forward and keyed the mic clipped to his vest. "Lead Unit confirms. Two minutes."
"Copy. Situation still fluid. No eyes on suspects since last transmission."
"Fluid," Dom muttered, tucking a flashbang back into its pouch. "Means nobody knows shit."
"That's why they pay us the big bucks," Chief said, deadpan. His voice was deep, almost a rumble, and it seemed to fill the spaces between the van's rattles.
A ripple of quiet laughter moved through the van.
Hicks snorted. "Big bucks. Right. My ex-wife got the big bucks. I got the night shift."
"Your ex-wife also got your truck," the bearded operator said without looking up.
"Low blow, Beard. Low blow."
"Beard" — Kayla learned his unofficial callsign in that moment — grinned, revealing a gold tooth. "Truth hurts, brother."