Chapter 4

Sunday, my family's favorite day. I specifically requested this to be my day off because I wanted to maintain a semblance of everyday life. This is the only day that our parents require us to wake up early to attend the first mass at six.

As we enter the church, people from all over the city greeted us. We are not rich but are respected—especially my parents, Judge Anita Leone Angeles and Judge Lorenzo Angeles. They may be retired, but people still remembered how they put a corrupt politician behind bars. This politician almost ruined our city. And despite the death threats that my parents receive daily, they still did their best to put him in jail.

"Good morning Judge Anita, Judge Lorenzo!" I feel so proud of my parents. People still call them 'Judge' even though it's been three years since they retired.

"Hi, Ron, Letty. Please, Anita and Lorenzo would be fine." My mom, gracefully, responded to them.

After the mass, we went to the Burton Grove Reserve. It's our parents' exercise. They want to be in nature every once in a while and smell the clean, fresh air. And they said that they love seeing little kids run around, playing. I think it was their way of saying they want to see their grandchildren already.

"Help! My son! Please! Help me!" We stopped in our tracks when we heard a woman yelling for help. The law enforcer in me doesn't have to think twice. I gave my bag to my sister and ran as fast as possible when I saw a man carrying a little boy carelessly. The boy was trying to free himself.

"Woooh! That's my big brother!" I smiled inwardly when I heard Melanie cheered for me.

I heard the people I passed by as I ran to say, 'oh, thank god!' 'that's Det. Angeles!' and so much more. Their kind words fluttered my heart and made me smile. After chasing the man for what felt like fifteen minutes, I finally cornered him into a part of the part where he needs to put the child down. I took this as an opportunity to shoot him on his right foot. As he stumbles forward, he finally lets go of the kid.

When I came back into the open with the little boy, people clapped and whistled. I literally felt like I blushed in front of them like a stupid teenager in front of his crush. I saw my family laughing behind all these people cheering my name. As look into Melanie, I remembered the 12-year-old her cheering for me as we play the junior year football championship. As soon as I let go of the kid, he ran as fast as possible to his mother.

"Good job, Chris!" Mark said with a broad smile on his face.

"I'm ao proud of you, brother." Jeffrey pat my shoulder.

"Great job, son. We're so proud of you." Mom and Dad both touched my face.

"This my older brother. He's so great, right?" Melanie said to those women looking at us.

"Det. Angeles, thank you much! I don't know what I would have done if you're not here." The kid's mother approached me. A moment's later, the medics and police officers arrive to take the guy into custody.

Dad requested for us to eat at our favorite restaurant, so we decided to leave the park. But on our way to the parking lot, I received a phone call from Oliver saying that my informant just called saying that our most wanted was spotted at a restaurant downtown.

"Sorry, guys, but I have to go. A drug dealer that we've been hunting for over a year was spotted downtown." Even though I wanted to spend some time with my family, catching Danilo Proctuso can't wait.

"It's okay, son." Dad nodded his head, allowing me to leave. I called a cab and went straight to the address that Oliver gave me.

I asked the driver to park at the printing shop next to the restaurant. In that way, even if he noticed me, he wouldn't suspect anything. While waiting for the signal light so I can cross the street towards Oliver's car, I stole a glance at the restaurant and saw Danilo inside.

"Sorry to interrupt your family day, man," Oliver said apologetically when I got in the car.

"It's OK, man. I know you can't live without me." I joked.

"Oh, yeah, I think I'm falling in love with you," Oliver responded while caressing my arm. Yuck!

"Work, man. Focus. God!"

We watched Danilo as he sat inside the restaurant drinking what looks like a cup of coffee. After finishing his drink, Danilo went out of the restaurant. Oliver wanted to catch him immediately, but I stopped him. I have a strong feeling that Danilo will lead us to something bigger.

When he took a cab, I asked Oliver to follow him immediately. We drove for almost twenty minutes. I recognized the area. I used to patrol on this side of the city. We saw Danilo get out of the cab in front of a two-story modern-style house. The whole property is surrounded by a stone wall about five feet high.

"I bet you; his source is inside." I confidently said because Danilo Proctuso is not the kind of criminal who comes back to a place where he's been made. That's why he's so hard to catch.

"I'll call for backup. Check how many are inside. I'll try to get as many people out of here ad possible." Oliver said as he looks around the area.

We both got out of the car and went separate ways. He started knocking on the nearest house as I climbed the wall to peek inside. There are four men outside the house to secure the perimeter. They were all armed with assault rifles. I tried to see what's happening inside, and I saw Danilo Proctuso and three other men. There are guns, drugs, and money at the table in the middle of the living room.

Oliver managed to get the people living around the property a safe distance away from immediate danger. Other officers positioned themselves around the property, securing permission from the owners of the houses higher than the house where Danilo went. As soon as we announce our presence, the gun fires started. After twenty minutes since they announced their arrival, Danilo and the other men surrendered.

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Back at the station, Oliver and I still wonder why Danilo and his people surrendered quickly. They didn't even try to escape or put up a fight. They just took time then went out of the house with their hands above their heads. It made me wondered what their actual reason. I feel like something is missing in all of this.

"Here's the lucky boy." My wondering thoughts became dark when I heard Guzman talk in front of me.

"What? People don't listen to your fantasies anymore?" I retaliated quickly.

"You just got lucky with that missing kid and with Danilo Proctuso, remember that." Guzman tried to act tough.

"Yeah? How about you? The self-proclaimed golden boy. What have you done so far? Well, aside from doing inventory at the evidence room, huh?" Chris was about to turn his back on Guzman when he speaks.

"I don't do inventory; I'm the newest detective of this station. You got that?" Guzman said, full of pride.

"I'm sorry, I honestly thought you dressed up early for Halloween. Your uniform is too small for you, man." Everyone who heard him laughed, but they all stopped when Inspector Miller arrived.

"What's wrong, Angeles? Not happy that he's on the same level as you?" Miller said as if daring me.

"Same level, Inspector? You must be joking. Anyway, I have to go. It's my off so, have a good day."

I smirked at him and walk out of the station after saying good bye to Oliver. It's been a long day.