All Chapters of Love and Justice: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

The police vehicles screeched to a halt blocking the only escape route from the warehouse. Zane opened his door and climbed out staying low and using the car door as cover. He drew his firearm and aimed it at the getaway car about fifty meters away. The driver revved the engine as he considered his chances of getting through the blockade at the warehouse doors. The driver knew what lay ahead of him if he surrendered and he didn’t relish the idea of going to prison. If he could make it through the blockade he might just escape.Zane’s colleague Brian, crouched behind the cruiser’s door on the opposite side. His firearm was trained on the getaway car too. He pressed the button on the loudhailer in his other hand and spoke calmly and clearly.“There is no way out. Turn off the engine, throw your weapons out of the car and get out slowly with your hands in the air.”They waited patiently and glanced over to their colleagues on the other

Zane sat down at his terminal and typed in ‘Hope Ryder’ on the search screen. Under offenses, he inserted ‘drug abuse, drug trafficking, drug pushing, drug dealing, and prostitution’. He hit enter and waited.The screen lit up seconds later and Zane stared as the list of offenses appeared one after another on the screen.Zane hit the print button and waited as sheet after sheet of information printed out. When the printout was finished he scanned the sheets learning what he could as fast as he could.Hope Ryder had been operating in small towns near Hurstville for the past few years. She had been caught on numerous occasions but had always somehow managed to slip out of the clutches of the law. She was known as ‘Flamingo’. No information told him why she was called ‘Flamingo’.He could not believe how many times she had slipped away already. How was it possible? She had never killed anyone, never used violen

Zane finished up his report and saved it on the system. Then he did his final rounds before leaving for the night. He said goodnight to the officer on duty, Tex. Tex had come on duty after the day’s drama so had not been in the station at the time that Zane was cuffed in his office.Zane believed it would be a quiet night despite the arrests they had made earlier in the day.Hope’s accomplices were all teenagers. Street kids just trying to earn a buck. Zane was tempted to simply let the kids go but he didn’t have the right to do so.He had seen so many kids just trying to make a buck and getting sucked into doing something criminal. By the time they found out what they would be doing for the job it was too late to back out.Generally, they would be out on the street again in a few days but they’d have a record. Something that could have been avoided if people like Hope didn’t get involved with them.Zane sat in his car

Zane woke the next morning and rolled over hoping to find Hope beside him but she was gone. She had left a note for him and he read it eagerly.Sorry to love and leave.It’s not you. I thoroughly enjoyed last night and I enjoy you too. You’re an interesting man.I think it's best that I go and that we don’t see each other again. I’m guessing that the next time you see me will be when you arrest me if you arrest me. It will be best if you do, rather than repeat last night. Even better would be for you to leave. Take a transfer and go settle in another town far from here. You can’t stop what’s coming and neither can I. But we are on opposite sides and I can’t change that. I’m pretty sure you won’t either. Even if you wanted to, other people aren’t willing to give you the opportunity. Please don’t let your ego get in the way. Listen. Think

He headed straight to Andy’s house. He knocked on the door and a big bulk of a man answered. He was surly but seemed to relax when he realized it was Zane, the town’s chief of police.“Yes chief, how can I help ya?”“I’m looking for Andy. Is he here?”“Why? He done somethin’ wrong?” the man asked immediately suspicious.“On the contrary,” Zane smiled. “He’s done something right.”“Oh, well that’s good,” the man smiled. He opened the screen door and invited Zane in.Zane politely declined, saying he was enjoying the beautiful day outside.“Andy!” the man shouted.Moments later a young boy about James’ age rounded the corner into the living room behind the man at the door.“Yes, Dad?”“Police chief here wants to have a word with ya. Take a walk with him outside,” the m