01-28-2023, 09:29 PM
Chapter 3
Are they followed?
(B:No, T5vS6, T6)
Did Jemal know about her martial arts abilities?
(E: Yes!)
They sat in the waiting room at the police station, and a detective took down their report. Jemal hugged herself as an in-station nurse probed gently at her neck for further damage.
“Are you okay?” Amala asked Jemal.
Jemal nodded and gave her a weak smile, “What a way to end our vacation, huh?”
“Could have been worse I guess,” Amala sighed. Amala felt glad her aunt wasn’t seriously hurt, but angry that it even happened
“Boy, am glad I helped pay for you to take those defense classes,” Jemal shook her head, still in obvious shock.
The nurse finished up and Detective Travis Bolder held out the clipboard to Jemal. “Thank you for your report, ma’am. Please sign at the bottom. We’ll do our best to see that those two are apprehended. Also, for your safety, we’ve coordinated with your local police office to have officers check in on you for a time once you’re home.”
“Thank you, Detective,” Jemal said and shook his hand.
“It’s the least we can do. I don’t like seeing punks mess with my town. We want our tourism industry to remain healthy and vibrant. Safe travels.”
---
Do they make it home without issue?
(E:No, T6vS7, T7)
What’s the issue?
Violate Obstacle
They began their drive home the next day.
Ten hours later, in the hot sticky late-summer weather, they had just passed Denville, New Jersey, when they spotted a roadblock ahead.
Is it the military?
(E:No, T7vS8, T8)
Red and blue lights hammered the pavement as they crawled to a stop behind a long line of vehicles. At the roadblock, police officers peered inside of vehicles.
An officer approached their car. The last name above his badge read “Connor”.
“Where are you headed, Ma’am?” He peered at them through his sun-glasses at them.
“Just on our way home, officer,” Jemal said. “We live in New York.”
He glanced through their windows. “Is it just the two of you?”
“Yes sir. What’s this about?”
“We’re looking for Mayor Kenshi’s attacker. A woman. Lithe, slender, and reported to be very dangerous.” His gaze passed over Jemal and rested on Amala for a moment.
“Well, it’s just me and my niece here, trying to get home for school next week,” Jemal said.
“I see,” He looked down at his phone and tapped on it. Then he paused. “I just ran your plates. It seems you ran into some trouble in Colorado, is that right?”
“Yes sir. We were almost robbed.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. And this young lady here? Your report says she managed to stop...two attackers?” his eyebrows threatened to climb over his glasses. “All by herself?”
“She’s quite adept at her self-defense classes,” Jemal stated, becoming somewhat annoyed.
Is he suspicious?
(G:No, T8vS4, T1 RE Condemn Agent)
He’s not suspicious because there’s a negative random event that occurs.
Condemn Agent...This makes me think a criminal in line behind them gets nervous and runs or fights, putting them in the line of fire assuming there’s any kind of shootout.
Is there a shootout?
(G:Y, T1VS8, T2)
“I see...”
His radio flared to life and a tense voice got out a partial phrase “Armed suspect! Black SUV---”
And then they heard gunfire tear through the air behind them.
Is officer Connor hit?
(E:Yes! T2vS7, T3)
Sounds like multiple times--maybe it’s an automatic weapon?
Is their vehicle hit?
(E:Yes, T3vS5, T4)
Is the attack aimed for Amala?
(E:No, T5vS5, T5)
Officer Connor, swore, moved behind the hood of their car and reached for his sidearm. Jemal and Amala both screamed and ducked, covering their heads as multiple bullets slammed into the police officer. He fell back, blood pooling about him on the pavement. His radio squawking uselessly.
More shots drove through the rear window of their sedan and out the front windshield.
Does the attacking vehicle push through the roadblock toward NYC?
(E:N, T5vS7, T6)
Tires burned rubber on the hot asphalt as the black SUV behind them tore into a mad-dash U-turn and peeled away.
Amala looked through the side mirror hoping she could catch the license plate or some other details about the attacker.
Does she?
(E:N , T6vS5, T1 RE Return Advice)
Pandemonium ensued. Police took cover behind doors and backs and hoods of their vehicles on either side of them, took aim at the departing vehicle as someone wearing a ski mask, leaned out the departing SUV with an automatic rifle.
“Go! Go!” Amala shouted.
“Hold on!” Jemal said.
Her aunt rammed the car into gear and slammed her foot on the gas as more gunfire exploded around them. They tore past the blockade as did several other cars behind them.
Do police follow after them?
(B:N, T1vS4, T2)
After several long seconds of rapid and reckless driving, Jemal eased off of the accelerator. “You okay?” Jemal asked her, shock and concern written across her aunt’s face as her eyes kept darting up to check the rearview mirror. Jemal’s voice sounded tinny and far away.
Amala didn’t know what to say. Her heart hammered in her throat, a double-time staccato. She had her arms over her head, and she half lay, half crouched in her seat. She looked at the bullet holes in their windshield and then turned wide eyes on her aunt.
Her ears still rang from the nearby shots.
“Amala! Answer me, are you okay?”
She felt numb but finally gave a slow nod.
“You’re not hurt?”
Amala slowly shook her head but her stomach clenched.
Jemal’s face turned into a thin line and still she drove at elevated, but somewhat less risky speeds, weaving in and out of traffic. But no one stopped her as police and ambulance vehicles rushed west on I-80 to the scene of the shooting.
---
Later that night, at home, after the police had left and taken their statement of events and examined their car for evidence, Amala and Jemal sat on their couch and held each other, watching the news reports retell the events in typical reporter fashion.
Did police capture or kill the assailants?
(G:Y, T2vS4, T3)
From the TV, A male’s voice accompanied a handsome man in a suit holding a microphone. stood at the was at the scene of the shootout where detectives worked in the background, collecting evidence:
“Police shot and killed both the driver and assailant during the exchange of gunfire at the Denville blockade. The police say that the gunman was in possession of an illegal automatic weapon. Politicians are again calling for stricter gun control in wake of tonight’s shooting. Lydia, I understand that you’re there at the home of one of the survivors?”
Alama peered through a crack in the curtains and then looked at the TV to see a pretty reporter, with wavy brown hair, standing outside their home a camera splaying across their bullet-ridden vehicle and saw her aunt’s name on the TV screen:
“That’s right, Kyle. I’m standing outside at the home of Ms. Jemal Carroll. Officers here on scene said she was talking with Officer Iago Connor when Officer Connor was shot. Ms. Carroll has not responded to inquiries on the events from the press, but you can see from her vehicle the absolute devastation wrought by such a terrible weapon. Officer Connor remains in critical condition at St. Clare’s hospital.”
“Just stunning, this level of violence, especially when you consider the recent attack on Mayor Keshi! Lydia, have the police said whether there’s any link between the attack on the mayor and what happened at the roadblock?”
“The governor and the police chief have both confirmed that the reason for the roadblocks was an attempt to capture Mayor Kenshi’s attacker. No report on whether that has been successful.”
“What about President Malaika’s visit to NYC? Will this affect her visit?”
“I don’t know, Kyle. It remains to be seen whether the President will cancel next week’s trip to New York, in lieu of the recent violence, but you can bet that her secret service are certainly on high alert.”
Jemal turned off the news and pulled Amala close. Amala leaned against her aunt, listened to Jemal’s steady breathing and felt a shiver of fear run down her spine when she thought of the hooded gunman. Attackers with a knife and chain were one thing, but this...
She squeezed her eyes shut and could still hear the shots...could still feel the glass beads from the windshield exploding around her raining down on her.
Jemal held her more tightly.
When she finally went up to her bed, she saw through the curtains that the police and the reporters had eventually left, but through the shades, she saw the shadowy outlines of a patrol car perched under a tree down the block, watching their house.
She wasn’t sure how that made her feel, and hours passed before sleep finally took her.
Are they followed?
(B:No, T5vS6, T6)
Did Jemal know about her martial arts abilities?
(E: Yes!)
They sat in the waiting room at the police station, and a detective took down their report. Jemal hugged herself as an in-station nurse probed gently at her neck for further damage.
“Are you okay?” Amala asked Jemal.
Jemal nodded and gave her a weak smile, “What a way to end our vacation, huh?”
“Could have been worse I guess,” Amala sighed. Amala felt glad her aunt wasn’t seriously hurt, but angry that it even happened
“Boy, am glad I helped pay for you to take those defense classes,” Jemal shook her head, still in obvious shock.
The nurse finished up and Detective Travis Bolder held out the clipboard to Jemal. “Thank you for your report, ma’am. Please sign at the bottom. We’ll do our best to see that those two are apprehended. Also, for your safety, we’ve coordinated with your local police office to have officers check in on you for a time once you’re home.”
“Thank you, Detective,” Jemal said and shook his hand.
“It’s the least we can do. I don’t like seeing punks mess with my town. We want our tourism industry to remain healthy and vibrant. Safe travels.”
---
Do they make it home without issue?
(E:No, T6vS7, T7)
What’s the issue?
Violate Obstacle
They began their drive home the next day.
Ten hours later, in the hot sticky late-summer weather, they had just passed Denville, New Jersey, when they spotted a roadblock ahead.
Is it the military?
(E:No, T7vS8, T8)
Red and blue lights hammered the pavement as they crawled to a stop behind a long line of vehicles. At the roadblock, police officers peered inside of vehicles.
An officer approached their car. The last name above his badge read “Connor”.
“Where are you headed, Ma’am?” He peered at them through his sun-glasses at them.
“Just on our way home, officer,” Jemal said. “We live in New York.”
He glanced through their windows. “Is it just the two of you?”
“Yes sir. What’s this about?”
“We’re looking for Mayor Kenshi’s attacker. A woman. Lithe, slender, and reported to be very dangerous.” His gaze passed over Jemal and rested on Amala for a moment.
“Well, it’s just me and my niece here, trying to get home for school next week,” Jemal said.
“I see,” He looked down at his phone and tapped on it. Then he paused. “I just ran your plates. It seems you ran into some trouble in Colorado, is that right?”
“Yes sir. We were almost robbed.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. And this young lady here? Your report says she managed to stop...two attackers?” his eyebrows threatened to climb over his glasses. “All by herself?”
“She’s quite adept at her self-defense classes,” Jemal stated, becoming somewhat annoyed.
Is he suspicious?
(G:No, T8vS4, T1 RE Condemn Agent)
He’s not suspicious because there’s a negative random event that occurs.
Condemn Agent...This makes me think a criminal in line behind them gets nervous and runs or fights, putting them in the line of fire assuming there’s any kind of shootout.
Is there a shootout?
(G:Y, T1VS8, T2)
“I see...”
His radio flared to life and a tense voice got out a partial phrase “Armed suspect! Black SUV---”
And then they heard gunfire tear through the air behind them.
Is officer Connor hit?
(E:Yes! T2vS7, T3)
Sounds like multiple times--maybe it’s an automatic weapon?
Is their vehicle hit?
(E:Yes, T3vS5, T4)
Is the attack aimed for Amala?
(E:No, T5vS5, T5)
Officer Connor, swore, moved behind the hood of their car and reached for his sidearm. Jemal and Amala both screamed and ducked, covering their heads as multiple bullets slammed into the police officer. He fell back, blood pooling about him on the pavement. His radio squawking uselessly.
More shots drove through the rear window of their sedan and out the front windshield.
Does the attacking vehicle push through the roadblock toward NYC?
(E:N, T5vS7, T6)
Tires burned rubber on the hot asphalt as the black SUV behind them tore into a mad-dash U-turn and peeled away.
Amala looked through the side mirror hoping she could catch the license plate or some other details about the attacker.
Does she?
(E:N , T6vS5, T1 RE Return Advice)
Pandemonium ensued. Police took cover behind doors and backs and hoods of their vehicles on either side of them, took aim at the departing vehicle as someone wearing a ski mask, leaned out the departing SUV with an automatic rifle.
“Go! Go!” Amala shouted.
“Hold on!” Jemal said.
Her aunt rammed the car into gear and slammed her foot on the gas as more gunfire exploded around them. They tore past the blockade as did several other cars behind them.
Do police follow after them?
(B:N, T1vS4, T2)
After several long seconds of rapid and reckless driving, Jemal eased off of the accelerator. “You okay?” Jemal asked her, shock and concern written across her aunt’s face as her eyes kept darting up to check the rearview mirror. Jemal’s voice sounded tinny and far away.
Amala didn’t know what to say. Her heart hammered in her throat, a double-time staccato. She had her arms over her head, and she half lay, half crouched in her seat. She looked at the bullet holes in their windshield and then turned wide eyes on her aunt.
Her ears still rang from the nearby shots.
“Amala! Answer me, are you okay?”
She felt numb but finally gave a slow nod.
“You’re not hurt?”
Amala slowly shook her head but her stomach clenched.
Jemal’s face turned into a thin line and still she drove at elevated, but somewhat less risky speeds, weaving in and out of traffic. But no one stopped her as police and ambulance vehicles rushed west on I-80 to the scene of the shooting.
---
Later that night, at home, after the police had left and taken their statement of events and examined their car for evidence, Amala and Jemal sat on their couch and held each other, watching the news reports retell the events in typical reporter fashion.
Did police capture or kill the assailants?
(G:Y, T2vS4, T3)
From the TV, A male’s voice accompanied a handsome man in a suit holding a microphone. stood at the was at the scene of the shootout where detectives worked in the background, collecting evidence:
“Police shot and killed both the driver and assailant during the exchange of gunfire at the Denville blockade. The police say that the gunman was in possession of an illegal automatic weapon. Politicians are again calling for stricter gun control in wake of tonight’s shooting. Lydia, I understand that you’re there at the home of one of the survivors?”
Alama peered through a crack in the curtains and then looked at the TV to see a pretty reporter, with wavy brown hair, standing outside their home a camera splaying across their bullet-ridden vehicle and saw her aunt’s name on the TV screen:
“That’s right, Kyle. I’m standing outside at the home of Ms. Jemal Carroll. Officers here on scene said she was talking with Officer Iago Connor when Officer Connor was shot. Ms. Carroll has not responded to inquiries on the events from the press, but you can see from her vehicle the absolute devastation wrought by such a terrible weapon. Officer Connor remains in critical condition at St. Clare’s hospital.”
“Just stunning, this level of violence, especially when you consider the recent attack on Mayor Keshi! Lydia, have the police said whether there’s any link between the attack on the mayor and what happened at the roadblock?”
“The governor and the police chief have both confirmed that the reason for the roadblocks was an attempt to capture Mayor Kenshi’s attacker. No report on whether that has been successful.”
“What about President Malaika’s visit to NYC? Will this affect her visit?”
“I don’t know, Kyle. It remains to be seen whether the President will cancel next week’s trip to New York, in lieu of the recent violence, but you can bet that her secret service are certainly on high alert.”
Jemal turned off the news and pulled Amala close. Amala leaned against her aunt, listened to Jemal’s steady breathing and felt a shiver of fear run down her spine when she thought of the hooded gunman. Attackers with a knife and chain were one thing, but this...
She squeezed her eyes shut and could still hear the shots...could still feel the glass beads from the windshield exploding around her raining down on her.
Jemal held her more tightly.
When she finally went up to her bed, she saw through the curtains that the police and the reporters had eventually left, but through the shades, she saw the shadowy outlines of a patrol car perched under a tree down the block, watching their house.
She wasn’t sure how that made her feel, and hours passed before sleep finally took her.
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